Elneny’s appeal win adds to Saints frustration
Southampton’s sense of injustice at how Arsenal avoided further disciplinary action for the angry finale to their match on Sunday has been compounded by Mohamed Elneny winning his appeal against the red card he was shown for his part in the melee.
Elneny was dismissed for pushing out at Southampton full-back Cedric Soares, but an independent Football Association panel upheld Arsenal’s appeal, ruling that he was “wrongly dismissed for violent conduct” in the club’s 3-2 victory.
Elneny is now available for the next three Premier League matches, against Newcastle, West Ham United and Manchester United. Southampton, though, will be without centre-back Jack Stephens for three matches, including the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, after he lashed out more aggressively at Jack Wilshere and was also shown a red card.
Mark Hughes, the Southampton manager, thought Wilshere and Elneny should have been sent off, but Arsenal will not now carry any suspensions into the rest of the season.
Reiss Nelson, meanwhile, is close to signing an extended contract at Arsenal, after making his Premier League debut in Sunday’s win.
Nelson, 18, joined Arsenal as a seven-year-old and has been identified by manager Arsene Wenger as having the potential to make a career in the Premier League, particularly because of what is regarded as a rare dribbling ability. He has made 15 first-team appearances this season and is in contention to start against CSKA Moscow tomorrow.
“It is a big achievement to sign for a big club like Arsenal, so I’m just delighted with the contract and hopeful that I can sign it soon,” said Nelson.