Well, at least that mess has finally been cleared up.
Kieran Gibbs and Kieran Gibbs Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be free to play in Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Swansea tomorrow after the club successfully appealed action taken over a highly controversial incident during their defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
In case you were living under a rock at the weekend and didn't see it, referee Andre Marriner dismissed Gibbs midway through the first-half, having mistakenly believed that it was the left-back who handled an Eden Hazard shot in an attempt to prevent it going into the goal, despite Oxlade-Chamberlain admitting to the official that he was responsible.
Gibbs’ red card being rescinded by the FA was a formality but as Hazard’s effort was going wide, Arsenal appealed that there should have been no red card issued at all, an appeal that was held up after a review by the FA today.
The FA released a statement on the matter which read: “An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday’s game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“The Commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“Subsequent to deciding this matter, the Commission then considered Arsenal’s claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“This claim was upheld meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect.”
As a result, both players will be available to face Swansea as the Gunners look to bounce back immediately from a humiliating 6-0 defeat to their London rivals, a loss which may well have dealt a fatal blow to the title chances of Arsene Wenger’s side.
Referee Andre Marriner, meanwhile, the man at the centre of Saturday’s fiasco, has escaped censure and will take charge of Southampton v Newcastle this weekend.
