Saturday saw a particularly violent day in the Premier League with a record number of red cards
The Premier League witnessed a dramatic day of football, filled with intense matches, controversial decisions, and a staggering number of red cards.
Five players were sent off, marking the most red cards shown in a single day in the competition since August 2015.
Saliba sees red in Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth
Among those involved was Arsenal’s William Saliba, who was sent off for the first time in his 157 appearances in Europe’s top five leagues.
The French defender received a red card in the first half after denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Bournemouth’s Evanilson.
With Saliba off the pitch, Arsenal were left to fend with just 10 men for the remainder of the match and despite the Gunners’ best efforts to hold Bournemouth at bay, the numerical disadvantage eventually proved too much.
Ryan Christie broke the deadlock in the second half, and a late penalty from Justin Kluivert sealed Bournemouth’s 2-0 victory.
Kudus sent off as West Ham crumble against Spurs
In another fiery clash, West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus was also shown a red card during a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ghanaian star had initially given his side a boost, scoring the opener for the Hammers. However, his joy was short-lived as Tottenham quickly equalised before the break, and he was embroiled in an altercation with Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr, leading to his dismissal after a VAR review upgraded his yellow card to red.
His sending-off not only compounded West Ham’s problems but also put him in line for possible further action from the FA.
In addition to Saliba and Kudus, Fulham’s Joachim Anderson, Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene, and Southampton’s Ryan Fraser also received their marching orders.
As tempers flared and decisions became increasingly contentious, this day will go down as one of the most action-packed in recent Premier League history.