Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith says Takehiro Tomiyasu’s red card against Crystal Palace in Premier League clash ‘seems really harsh’ as Gunners are reduced to 10 men
Former Arsenal forward Alan Smith has labelled Takehiro Tomiyasu‘s sending off against Crystal Palace as ‘really harsh’.
The Japan international was sent off for two bookable offences during Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace, the first after being yellow carded for time wasting – holding the ball for just eight seconds.
This comes after Martin Odegaard put his side ahead after Eddie Nketiah won a penalty, being brought down after rounding Sam Johnstone.
Speaking on Sky Sports during the clash, Smith said: ‘I’m not wearing my Arsenal colours here but to get sent off for that, I know it’s his second yellow, it just seems really harsh.
‘A tug of the shirt I can understand but there wasn’t much there at all’.
Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off for two bookable offences against Crystal Palace
Tomiyasu brought down Jordan Ayew as he received a second yellow for Arsenal
Martin Odegaard put his side ahead, netting a penalty in the second half
The sending off comes after the Premier League introduced new standards to crack down on time wasting.
Kai Havertz held the ball for several seconds before passing it onto Tomiyasu to take a throw in for the Gunners.
Taking just eight seconds to throw the ball into play, the referee booked the Arsenal defender as he was deemed to be time wasting.
His second yellow came after he tripped a Crystal Palace player, with Arsenal reduced to ten-men.
This saw Gabriel introduced from the bench as Arsenal held a narrow lead over their London rivals.
