Southampton: Saints left uneasy after Elneny’s red get overturned
By Chris Hughes
Southampton have today found themselves annoyed at the Football Association after they overturned Mohamed Elneny’s red card whilst upholding Jack Stephens’ suspension.
The two players were sent off towards the end of Southampton’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal this past weekend, with tensions high as the game reached it’s conclusion. The Saints had been battling hard for much of the game, only to allow Danny Welbeck to grab his second of the game and the eventual winner.
Whilst bombing forward in a last-ditch attempt to draw his side level, Stephens was grabbed by the Gunners’ Jack Wilshere on multiple occasions, to the extent that the midfielder eventually tore Stephens’ shirt at the back.
As a result the centre-back lashed out at the England international, wrapping his arms around him before throwing him to the ground – a natural reaction at such an emotional part of the game but nonetheless a very fair red.
Whilst the events were unfolding however, Mohamed Elneny’s pushed one of Southampton’s players, something which was noticed by the game’s linesman – he was sent off as a result.
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However following the decision by the FA, Sky Sports are reporting that the Saints have been left angered, with Stephens now set to miss two important league games as well as the semi-final against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
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Arsenal supporters will be quick to argue that Elneny’s push was much less severe than Stephens’ on Wilshere – a point which is indeed correct.
However, the latter’s tugging on the Southampton man’s shirt was bound to aggravate him, especially so late in the game with the Saints desperate to try and snatch anything. Elneny meanwhile had no reason to lash out – his side were winning and his fracas occurred a good ten yards away from where the referee was sending Jack Stephens off.
Therefore, there’s a case that Elneny’s red card should not of been overturned – it seems that the club are more aggrieved about that than specifically wanting Stephens’ suspension to be rescinded.
Regardless of it, the Saints are left dangerously thin on centre-backs for the next three games, which all come within the next ten days or so. With Maya Yoshida having only recently returned from injury, it may be tough for him to play the duration of all of them, with the match against Leicester coming just 67 hours before the cup game against Chelsea.