Guendouzi faces throat grab ban
MATTEO Guendouzi is facing an FA ban for grabbing Brighton striker Neal Maupay by the throat following Saturday’s ill-tempered clash.
The Arsenal midfielder also appeared to lash out at fellow Frenchman Maupay twice during the match.
Gunners players were furious with Maupay after he jumped into Bernd Leno, prompting the German keeper to fall awkwardly and causing him to suffer a serious knee injury.
Arsenal were assessing Leno yesterday but fear he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with ligament and cartilage damage to his right knee.
It means Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is set to be without Leno until the end of the season, while there are serious concerns he could also miss the start of next term.
But now Arsenal could lose Guendouzi for Thursday’s trip to Southampton through suspension under the FA’s fasttrack disciplinary system. The FA were yesterday awaiting referee Martin Atkinson’s report to see if Guendouzi grabbing Maupay by the throat is included.
If it is not, the FA will consider retrospective action against the French midfielder for the assault that sparked a mass confrontation. Gunners players were angry with Maupay during the game, believing the blame for Leno’s injury lay squarely on his shoulders, even though Arteta exonerated the Brighton forward after the game.
Indeed, sources claim Arsenal players were taking verbal digs at Maupay during the game out of frustration at the incident — which led to Maupay saying after the game that they lacked humility.
Guendouzi’s potential ban is just one of a crib sheet of disciplinary issues that need to be resolved following the fiery clash at the Amex Stadium.
The FA will also consider if the mass confrontation after the final whistle necessitates a charge for both clubs for failing to control their players.
Similarly, if the FA decide to take action, the Premier League will consider whether the angry scenes were in breach of their ready-to-play protocols, which prohibit mass gatherings due to the need to observe social distancing measures.
However, given that the protocols in question are new, it is understood that top-flight officials will remind players and clubs of their responsibilities rather than hand out sanctions.