Gabriel escapes red card as Arsenal prepare for Napoli Champions League opener

Arsenal maintained their 100 per cent Premier League start with a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea on Sunday, but the victory was overshadowed by a contentious incident involving defender Gabriel and Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

Gabriel caught Martinez in the head with a high boot while the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands, yet the challenge went unpunished — drawing sharp criticism from former Manchester United players Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young on Match of the Day.

“Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top. He’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch,” Rooney said.

Young echoed that view: “When the ball is on the floor and Martinez has it, Gabriel kicks so high. I’m not sure why it hasn’t gone to VAR or if they’ve properly studied it because he’s nowhere near the ball.”

The win, which came after Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea an early lead, leaves Mikel Arteta’s side second in the table behind Manchester City on goal difference.

Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where Arsenal host Napoli on Wednesday in their opening league-phase fixture. The Gunners hold a strong record against the Serie A side, winning three of their four previous meetings, though they did lose in Naples in December 2013.

Arsenal will be looking to extend a remarkable run of form in European competition, having won all eight of their league-phase matches last season. A 13th consecutive victory in the format would further cement their credentials as genuine contenders this term.

Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg has been appointed to take charge of the Napoli fixture — a name that will resonate with Arsenal supporters. Nyberg officiated the Gunners’ home leg against Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 Champions League, a 2-2 draw in which he declined to award Arsenal a late penalty after an incident involving Bukayo Saka and Manuel Neuer. He also refereed Arsenal’s group-stage win at Sevilla earlier that same season.