Exclusive: Brentford’s Norgaard on Martinelli vs Arsenal was ‘red card offence’
Christian Norgaard deserved to receive a red card for his challenge on Gabriel Martinelli during Brentford versus Arsenal, Keith Hackett believes.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the midfielder’s challenge on the winger met all the requirements for a sending-off on Saturday, 12 April.
In a goalless first half, the Gunners were frustrated by Thomas Frank‘s side, with most of their joy coming from counterattacks before playing out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a breakaway from Declan Rice, still high off the Real Madrid win, that helped find the opener against the Bees, feeding the ball to Thomas Partey to fire home, with Yoanne Wissa netting the equaliser.
However, it could have been even worse for Brentford had referee Simon Hooper made the right decision on Norgaard’s malicious first-half attempt to chop Martinelli down, or so Hackett believes.
Gabriel Martinelli escapes serious injury after Christian Norgaard’s scissor-action tackle
Mikel Arteta has seen his fair share of red cards this season, with Myles Lewis-Skelly being sent off twice for Arsenal, but his side were on the opposite side of the decision this time.
Despite what many supporters believed to be an obvious decision, a VAR check on Norgaard’s challenge did not trigger Hooper to check the pitch-side monitor, with the officials happy to stick with yellow card.
Hackett, however, has slammed the decision not to give the midfielder his marching orders, suggesting it was more than “reckless”, contained “malice” and deserved a bigger punishment than just a caution.
Mikel Arteta seething after Brentford controversy v Arsenal
Arteta was seething on the sidelines, and speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Norgaard’s challenge, the former referee said:
“Norgaard came into Martinelli at pace, off the ground, and with a scissor action on the right leg of Martinelli.
“Excessive force, endangering the safety of the opponent, and there was a degree of malice in it. For me, that is a red-card offence, and that should have been the outcome.
“It was more than a reckless challenge.”
The Bees will next face Brighton at the Amex Stadium, with Norgaard available due to no sending-off, while the Gunners will be preparing for their Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.