The Brazilian was sent off just before half-time against Wolves in a game the Gunners finished with nine men
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was angry with David Luiz’s red card following his side’s 2-1 loss to Wolves, saying he couldn’t see any contact in the challenge even after repeated viewings.
The Gunners scored a goal just before half-time at Molineux when the Brazilian defender appeared to crush Willian Jose as he sprinted towards goal, sending Real Sociedad’s recent signing to the ground.
It wasn’t long before Craig Pawson awarded Wolves a penalty and issued Luiz a straightforward red card and after a VAR review both decisions were upheld.
Ruben Neves converted from the spot to level the game and Joao Moutinho then scored the winner with a long-range stunner right after the break, before Bernd Leno’s red card for handling the ball outside the surface does reduce the Gunners to nine men.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Arteta insisted Luiz had not contacted Jose, while adding that he did not believe the Brazilian’s reputation for conceding penalties and picking up red cards had influenced Pawson’s decision.
“If you want to talk about the decision, I just saw the replay 10 times, from five different angles, and I’m sitting here with you guys and I can’t see any contact,” Arteta said. “So I would like to see VAR have different angles.
“If there’s a contract, it’s him (Jose) to David, that’s what I saw.
“I don’t want to think that [it was a decision based on Luiz’s reputation]. I’m sure they based their decision on something they saw, but unfortunately I’m sitting here expecting to see something and I don’t see anything.
“Of course that was a game changer. You play 45 minutes in the Premier League without your central defender, against this opposition, of course that changes the situation.
When asked if VAR had let his side down, Arteta replied, “Well, that was a big decision. If they have understood correctly and can justify that they have done well, I raise my hand and I apologize.
“But the only thing I’m saying is I’m sitting here and I can’t see any contact and it’s really frustrating because it’s a big, big moment in the game.”
Luiz himself took to social media after the game, post a host of angry emojis and the caption “AMAZING!” on Instagram.
Arteta was also asked if Arsenal plan to appeal Luiz’s red card, and the manager has indicated he is in favor of such a move.
“When I stand here I would say yes, let’s go right now because we have a great chance,” he said of a possible call. “But I don’t know, we have to speak with the legal department and the club and make the decision on the best thing to do.”
