Arsenal receive new Riccardo Calafiori red card referee verdict after Mikel Arteta 'worry'

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has disagreed with Mikel Arteta over Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian left the Gunners head coach 'worried' over a potential sending-off following a challenge during Saturday afternoon's enthralling 4-2 win over Leicester City.

Arsenal returned to winning ways, but they were forced to do it the hard way as Steve Cooper's side fought back from two goals down. However, an own goal from Wilfried Ndidi and Kai Havertz's 99th-minute strike grabbed the Gunners all three points in north London.

Leicester were left aggrieved at the Emirates Stadium in the second half when the ex-Bologna defender, Calafiori, avoided a second yellow card for a block on Facundo Buonanotte - stopping a promising attack for the visitors. He had already been cautioned for a tackle on the 19-year-old Argentina international.

Speaking on Sky Sports show Ref Watch, former top-flight official Gallagher stated that it wasn't a yellow card as Premier League referees continue to implement the high threshold. "Interesting, this, because this is the third incident we've seen this season where they say; 'It's not breaking up a promising attack' - because [Thomas] Partey was mopping up," he explained.

"We've seen it on the opening day with [Wes] Burn of Ipswich, who could've had a second yellow, and Will Hughes a few weeks ago. They've been hard, fast and consistent on this.

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"The only way you can give him [Calafiori] a red card if the referee thinks it's a yellow card in it's own right."

Arteta, though, was not under such impression. He admitted his concern over a possible second bookable offence for the summer signing. Speaking post-match, he said: "I haven't seen the action, but I got really worried when that happened because he gave the foul, but I haven’t seen the replay."