Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Granit Xhaka’s behaviour as ‘unacceptable’ and said the experienced Swiss midfielder overstepped the line as his red card proved decisive in Sunday night’s defeat to Burnley.
The big flashpoint of the game came just before the hour mark when a skirmish broke out between both sets of players after a foul on Burnley winger Dwight McNeil.
VAR replays showed Xhaka had grabbed Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood by the throat in the melee that followed the foul. A yellow was initially awarded by referee Graham Scott before he went over to the pitchside monitor and overturned for a red.