Arsenal are reportedly hopeful that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's three-match ban will be reduced by the FA, although they will not appeal against it.
Gunners captain Aubameyang was initially booked by referee Paul Tierney for a lunge on Crystal Palace midfielder Max Meyer during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park, only for the decision to then be upgraded to a straight red card by VAR.
Television replays showed that Aubameyang clearly caught Meyer's ankle with his challenge, but Goal.com report that Arsenal feel that slowed down replays of the incident portrayed it to be much worse than it was.
The club are also said to be citing similar challenges on their own players which didn't result in any punishment this season, although their chances of getting the decision overturned or the ban reduced must surely be considered low.
Forward Aubameyang is due to miss the forthcoming Premier League matches at home to Sheffield United and away to Chelsea , as well as the FA Cup fourth round tie at Bournemouth .
One man who is unlikely to agree with Arsenal's grounds for appeal is Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who claimed that a red card was a correct decision.
“I knew at the time it was a severe challenge and I’m not accusing Aubameyang of wanting deliberately to do that, but it was a bad challenge, a forward’s challenge," said Hodgson after the game.
“He’s had his ankle bent almost in half, a 90-degree angle.
“The only thing that surprised me is it took them so long to decide it was a red card, because I don’t think I’ve seen a challenge which was more obviously a red card than that in a long, long time.”
