Ian Wright has expressed his belief that Bruno Guimaraes should have been sent off during Newcastle United’s 1-0 victory over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. The match was filled with controversial moments, but the most contentious incident occurred in the second half when Anthony Gordon scored for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. Wright engaged in a discussion with former referee Dermot Gallagher about this decision. However, it was Bruno Guimaraes’ elbow on Jorginho that particularly irked Ian Wright, as he felt it was an attempt to “hurt” the Arsenal midfielder.
Although Bruno Guimaraes escaped a red card, those supporting Newcastle could point to Kai Havertz’s actions. Havertz, an Arsenal summer signing, received a yellow card for a reckless challenge in the first half, leading many at St James’ Park to argue that he should have been sent off.
Wright shared his thoughts on Bruno Guimaraes’ elbow on Jorginho, saying, “There is no reason for him to be challenging Jorginho like this. Look how far away he is. The ball has gone. His arm doesn’t need to be up. I can’t understand why that isn’t a yellow card and they aren’t looking at that. He is trying to hurt him there. You know something that could easily be given as a red card. There is no reason for his arm to be there. What’s he doing? His intention is to hurt him. It’s not like it’s a challenge, and your arm has flailed. The ball has gone; he has no reason to do that. None! He is lucky that he hasn’t caught him in the temple or something. It’s a bad challenge.”
Newcastle’s victory over Arsenal is a significant three points for the team’s pursuit of a Champions League spot. Despite the win, they remain three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand and are set to play Luton Town on Sunday. The Magpies’ performance signals their ability to compete in both the Premier League and the Champions League, even with a few injuries in their squad, as they continue to secure victories against some of the league’s top teams.