Leicester City fans have slammed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for his post-match comments after the 1-1 draw between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Gunners moved a point closer to the European places due to the result, but would have been left to rue missed chances in the first half after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave them the lead in the 21st minute.
More chances came and went for Arsenal, with Leicester goalkeeper stopping the Gunners adding to their lead.
Leicester grew into the game in the second half, and Eddie Nketiah’s red card just minutes after entering the field gave the Foxes more impetus to get something out of the game.
And the goal came through Jamie Vardy in the 84th minute when he turned in Demarai Gray’s cross. The goal was eventually awarded after a lengthy VAR check for offside.
That is how the game ended, but in his post-match interview, Mikel Arteta made it clear that he didn’t think the Foxes’ striker should have been on the pitch after catching Shkodran Mustafi in the first half, especially after Nketiah was shown red later in the game.
“With the red card decision, he doesn’t see the player, he has to know he’s a young kid,” Arteta told Sky Sports of Nketiah’s challenge.
“It can be a red card but then Leicester has to play with 10 men after 42 minutes,” he added.
However, the comments have angered Leicester fans, some of whom have taken to social media to accuse the Arsenal boss of deflection tactics.
Arsenal have lodged an appeal against the red card shown to Nketiah, according to reports, in order to avoid losing the youngster for the next three games in all competitions.
A decision on the appeal is expected before the weekend’s North London derby against Tottenham.
The draw leaves Arsenal in seventh place in the Premier League, nine points adrift of Leicester in fourth with just four league games left to play.
