Wayne Rooney says Arsenal‘s Gabriel Magalhaes was ‘extremely lucky’ not to be sent off for a kick to the head – with the centre back’s antics being picked apart in the wake of their 2-1 win over Chelsea.
The Gunners secured a turnaround in their third Premier League game of the season with goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard cancelling out Morgan Rogers’s second-minute opener.
But much of the focus from fans has been on Gabriel – who Rooney says could have seen red inside just six minutes with Arsenal already 1-0 down. And punditry partner Ashley Young suggests the incident was ‘not properly studied’ by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
At a set-piece scramble in the sixth minute of the game, when tussling for the ball with Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato, a grounded Gabriel’s boot connected with Emiliano Martinez‘s face, leaving the Chelsea goalkeeper requiring treatment.
But referee Chris Kavanagh did not take action and his decision was backed by the VAR. Arsenal’s 11 men went on to score twice to turn the game on its head.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney became the first big-name pundit to speak out and suggest Gabriel should have seen red.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes kicked Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the head
Wayne Rooney said Gabriel was ‘extremely lucky’ not to be sent off just minutes into the game
‘You don’t really see it at first but when you see the replay and slow it down, Martinez has got the ball in his hands and they (Gabriel) boot him in the head,’ Rooney said.
‘He’s got the ball in two hands, he’s way over the top of the ball and he boots him in the head. So I think he’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch.’
Rooney’s former Manchester United team-mate Ashley Young added: ‘I’m exactly the same way, we talked about it at the time and we said that obviously nothing came of it but when the ball’s on the floor there and you see Martinez has got it in his hands, Gabriel kicks so high and kicks him in the head when his head’s up there.
‘I’m not sure why it’s not gone to VAR and they’ve (not) properly studied it because he’s nowhere near the ball. So I think he’s got away with one there.’
Combative centre back Gabriel has long been the subject of criticism from rival fans and the Martinez incident again sparked intense debate about whether he should have been sent off.
On the flip side, former refereeing chief Keith Hackett backed the decision not to send Gabriel off.
Gabriel and Arsenal maintained their 100 per cent record at the start of the Premier League
Speaking to Football Insider he said: ‘It is evident that the referee did not have a view of the incident. The action by the Arsenal player in my opinion showed no malice and therefore I put it under the banner of accidental. VAR also, wisely in my opinion, decided not to come in.’
Ultimately, Gabriel escaped without any punishment and played a key role in keeping the Chelsea front three of Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer quiet.
Another flashpoint where Gabriel appeared to bodycheck Pedro Neto off the ball close to the corner flag later in the game also went unpunished.
Gabriel was this week dubbed the ‘most overrated player in the Premier League’ by former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
But the criticism will cause little bother for Arsenal’s defensive talisman: The Gunners’ 100 per cent record in the Premier League remains after their toughest test of the season so far.
Manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with his team’s overall display.
Fans also picked out a moment where Gabriel appeared to check Pedro Neto’s run
Rival fans questioned the treatment Arsenal and Gabriel get from referees
‘It was an exceptional performance,’ Arteta said. ‘I enjoyed every minute from beginning to end, and the beginning was tough. But the team responded in a spectacular way: the conviction, the determination, the quality. It was beautiful. It was a fascinating game.
‘I think it’s an indication for us of how we are capable of performing at an even higher level than last season. It depends on how we maintain and sustain that desire, that humbleness, and continue every day to try to find a better version of myself and the team. We still have a lot to grow and a lot to offer. This is the ambition of the team.’
