Leandro Trossard became the focal point of controversy after being sent off during Arsenal’s match against Manchester City, putting his team in a difficult situation. Filling in for the injured Martin Ødegaard, Trossard struggled to make an impact and was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Normally effective as a substitute, Trossard failed to replicate his usual performance in the starting role, receiving two yellow cards in the first half. The second card, seen as particularly avoidable, frustrated fans and analysts.
Just before halftime, he was penalized for kicking the ball away after the referee whistled for a foul he had committed. This decision to delay the game’s restart, especially after already receiving a yellow card, proved costly.
Former footballer Michael Owen commented on the situation, suggesting that while the second yellow card might seem excessive in different contexts, Trossard was ultimately at fault. He pointed out that the initial foul was reckless, but it was Trossard’s choice to kick the ball away after the whistle that sealed his dismissal.
On Premier League Productions, Owen noted, “If someone else had committed that foul and then kicked the ball away, the referee might not have noticed. But in Trossard’s case, he made a reckless foul, heard the whistle, and then kicked the ball. He has no one to blame but himself.”
This error occurred at a critical juncture in the match, significantly diminishing Arsenal’s chances against a strong Manchester City team. With ten players for the entire second half, Arsenal had to adopt a more defensive strategy, which hampered their offensive capabilities and subjected them to relentless pressure from City.
Despite Arsenal’s determined effort, the red card made their task considerably harder, and Trossard’s absence was felt during the second half. It was a misjudgment that cost both him and the team, and Trossard will undoubtedly aim to learn from this incident to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Ultimately, this experience served as a reminder for the Belgian winger that even minor decisions can have major consequences, and he will be focused on ensuring he doesn’t let his team down again.
