Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli escaped a red card despite shoving the referee in his side’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton.
The Gunners crashed out of the competition on Saturday night after a 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s, undone by Shea Charles’ good finish five minutes from full-time.
Arsenal pushed for an equaliser late on with 16-year-old Max Dowman his side’s best outlet all night.
In injury time, the teenager drove forward again before being brought down just contained in the Southampton half.
Referee Sam Barrott immediately blew for a free kick but was shoved out of the way in which by Martinelli who was longing for it to be taken as quickly as possible.
Unsurprinsigly, Barrott pulled the Gunners forward back showing him a yellow card and giving him a ticking off for his trouble.
Arsenal had opportunities to force overtime late on with Noni Madueke firing over and Riccardo Calafiori heading clear of the bar.
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Martinelli’s conduct was blasted by frustrated supporters online with one writing: ‘Martinelli, if you wish to show your hunger and readiness, do it with the ball not by pushing the referee or looking lost on the pitch.’
One other added: ‘Gabriel Martinelli pushing referee away is disgraceful,’ while one other wrote: ‘Martinelli pushes the referee out of the way in which but is simply given a yellow card. Surely, that’s a red?’
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