Keogh’s ditched by Rams
Teen Jones delivers the KO after Kelleher penalty save
Kelleher had blocked a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles that deflected into his path off Sepp van den Berg.
Things went from bad to worse before the break when Elliott gave the ball away deep inside his own half to Ozil who fed Saka, who picked out the unmarked Martinelli for him to make it 3-1 with his second of the night.
Ozil was beginning to pull the strings, albeit against youthful opponents and his long-range nutmegging of Elliott was bordering on child cruelty.
Elliott went some way to making amends for his earlier mistake when he earned a penalty on 43 minutes which James Milner converted to bring the Reds back into the game just before half-time. But the kamikaze contest continued at full throttle and the Gunners’ two-goal advantage was restored nine minutes into the second half when Milner’s mistake sold Kelleher short and Ozil’s brilliant backheel allowed Maitland-Niles to tap in from close range.
Back came the Reds with two stunning goals in four mad minutes from Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is slowly but surely getting back to his best after grabbing a brace last week in the Champions League win against Genk, and Origi, to make it 4-4.
Then it was time for a Joe Willock stunner to nudge the Gunners ahead again on 70 minutes before Origi pounced in stoppage time with a volley that took this cracking clash to penalties.
When Ceballos missed, up stepped local lad and boyhood fan Jones to hold his nerve in front of the Kop and make his first competitive appearance on the hallowed turf one he will never forget.
LINE UP FOR THE LAST 8
DERBY have sacked skipper Richard Keogh and told him they’ll see him in court if he wants to fight his gross misconduct dismissal.
The 33-year-old was offered a ‘take it or leave it’ offer of vastly reduced wages on his £1.3m deal after he was badly injured in a car crash after a boozy night out.
The Republic of Ireland defender is said to be shattered by yesterday’s events and has called in lawyers and the PFA.
A club statement read: “Derby County has completed the disciplinary hearing regarding Richard Keogh in respect of his involvement in the events of Tuesday, September 24.
“As a result of that process, Mr Keogh has had his contract terminated with immediate effect for gross misconduct. He has the right of appeal within 14 days.
“The club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute.
“The club will be making no further comment at this time regards this matter, until the conclusion of any potential appeal.”
Keogh could be out for well over a year after suffering a serious knee injury in an accident which saw two of the club’s star players convicted of drink driving.
He was a back-seat passenger in teammate Tom Lawrence’s Range Rover when it smashed into a lamp-post after a booze-fuelled team bonding night out last month.
Lawrence and Mason Bennett were both banned from driving for two years and fined six weeks’ wages by Derby after the incident, which left Keogh with ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments.