What Granit Xhaka’s red card vs Liverpool means for North London Derby & League Cup 2nd-leg availability

Confirmation of the hefty price set to be paid by Arsenal for the dismissal of Granit Xhaka during the club’s meeting with Liverpool this evening has been provided online.

Xhaka sent for an early bath

Mikel Arteta’s troops are, at present, locked in League Cup action.

After Chelsea sent Tottenham packing in the first of two semi-final ties on Wednesday, Arsenal made the trip to Anfield, hopeful of securing a first-leg advantage at the expense of Liverpool amid the respective Premier League giants’ efforts to book a spot at Wembley.

As things stand at the interval on Merseyside, the scoreline remains locked at 0-0.

However, to say that one of the two sides are in the ascendancy would be putting it lightly.

This comes after the aforementioned Granit Xhaka, marking his return to action on the back of a bout of Covid-19, was given his marching orders inside 25 minutes.

After Diogo Jota was set free on goal courtesy of a pinpoint ball over the top from Andy Robertson, Xhaka, last man and unaware of his surroundings, threw out a leg, flooring Jota in the process:

RED CARD! 🟥

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is sent off after a reckless last man challenge on Liverpool’s Diogo Jota pic.twitter.com/n71xpYPzRW

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 13, 2022

Tottenham absence

And now, as alluded to above, an insight into the hefty cost set to be paid by Arsenal for the recklessness of their midfield metronome at Anfield has been provided.

As per the reliable Chris Wheatley, the Swiss international’s upcoming suspension will carry over into the Premier League.

Xhaka, as a result, is set to sit out all of the Gunners’ North London Derby meeting with Tottenham, League Cup 2nd-leg clash with Liverpool, and ensuing league test versus Burnley.

Add to this the fact that Thomas Partey is currently at the African Cup of Nations, Martin Odegaard in isolation with Covid-19, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ loan to AS Roma, and the situation in Mikel Arteta’s midfield ranks is fast approaching crisis territory.

Xhaka’s three game ban means he’ll be suspended for Arsenal’s games against Tottenham, Liverpool and Burnley. #AFC

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) January 13, 2022

*Update* – Such claims have since been challenged elsewhere.

As per Dale Johnson of ESPN, in fact, if Xhaka’s dismissal is deemed to have come as a result of serious foul play, he will face a 4-game ban, owing to a previous red card picked up this season.

If, on the other hand, it came as a result of the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the Swiss is in line for a 2-game suspension.

If that’s a red card for serious foul play, Grant Xhaka will get a 4-game ban.

3 games for this red card and an additional game as it’s his second red of the season.

If DOGSO, it will be 2 games.

#LIVARS pic.twitter.com/VVSr6YX80f

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) January 13, 2022

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