Arsenal fans furious after Mateo Kovacic avoids second yellow card for lunge on Declan Rice

Arsenal fans have vented their fury after Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic avoided a second yellow card for a challenge on Declan Rice.

There had been controversy minutes earlier when the Croatian fouled Gunners captain Martin Odegaard.

The Croatian lunged in towards the Norwegian, with replays showing that Kovacic caught the Norwegian low on his ankle with his trailing leg.

Referee Michael Oliver initially gave the midfielder a yellow card, but VAR checked the incident for a possible red card for serious foul play.

And as footage was aired across the Emirates Stadium, Gunners fans were audibly calling for Kovacic to be shown a straight red.

There was then more drama shortly afterwards, with Kovacic producing an almost exact replica of the Odegaard tackle – this time on Rice in Arsenal’s half.

However, Oliver decided not to show the Croatian a second yellow card for the incident, and he remained on the field of play much to the frustration of Gunners supporters.

Taking to X (Twitter), one wrote: “How has Mateo Kovacic not gone there?”

Another said: “Kovacic has committed a red card challenge and a yellow card challenge and is still on the field.”

A third added: “How on earth was that not a direct red card for Kovacic and/or second yellow for that second foul?”

Speaking on Sky Sports, meanwhile, former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott believed the Croatian ‘endangered an opponent’ with his tackle on Odegaard, and should have been sent off.

He said: “I thought red card. It’s a nasty tackle. For me, it’s a red card, I don’t think there’s any question.

“That’s not me putting my Arsenal head on, I genuinely think that’s endangering a player.”

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