Mikel Arteta issues apology to Crystal Palace’s Max Meyer for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tackle in Arsenal draw

Arsenal captain was sent off via VAR after a nasty challenge on the Palace midfielder

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta issued a formal apology to Crystal Palace midfielder Max Meyer for the “nasty” tackle that resulted in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being sent off.

The Arsenal captain saw a yellow card upgraded to a straight red after a reckless challenge on Meyer was reviewed by Video Assistant Referee Craig Pawson, who advised referee Paul Tierney to make the change and reduce the visitors to 10 men for the final 25 minutes.

Meyer was forced off immediately due to the challenge and Arteta, after viewing a replay of the studs-up challenge, used his press conference after the 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park to apologise to the German.

“I just watched it. It looked nasty to be fair,” Arteta said. “We know there is no intention to make such a tackle.

“Hopefully he (Meyer) hasn’t been injured and we are sorry for that. They made a decision and we have to accept it.

“It is a massive blow (to lose Aubameyang). You know how important Auba is for the team and we lose him for a couple of games.”

Aubameyang will miss next Saturday’s visit of Sheffield United to the Emirates Stadium as well as the trip to Chelsea the following Tuesday, while he will also be unavailable for the FA Cup fourth round tie with Bournemouth on Monday 27 January, meaning he will not play again this calendar month.

But of even greater concern for Arsenal is that they have only won one of their last six Premier League games and find themselves 11 points off the top four, leaving Arteta to rue the manner of how Palace scored their equaliser.

After Aubameyang netted his 14th goal of the season inside the opening 12 minutes, Palace fought their way back into the match and started the second half the superior side, with a quickly-taken free-kick catching out the labouring Arsenal defence and allowing Meyer to cross for Wilfried Zaha, whose effort at goal deflected off both David Luiz and Jordan Ayew and over the head of Bernd Leno into the net.

“At this level, in the Premier League, you switch off for two seconds and you concede a goal,” rued Arteta.

“I will have to find a way to try to avoid those situations, but it happened today and it cost us two points.”

Roy Hodgson felt the right decision occurred when Aubameyang received his marching orders, although was surprised it took two-and-a-half minutes for the team in Stockley Park looking at the decision to reach a conclusion.

Palace’s manager also insisted he did not think Arsenal’s top goalscorer meant to hurt Meyer, but does believe the German has suffered some type of ankle ligament damage.

“Max is not happy,” Hodgson admitted. “I knew at the time, because it was very close to me, that it was a bad challenge.

Meyer suffered suspected ankle ligament damage (AFP via Getty) (AFP via Getty Images)

“I am not accusing Aubameyang of trying to injure the player, I am sure he didn’t. It is the type of a challenge forwards sometimes make.

“When I saw it after the game, the same thing the people I presume at Stockley Park saw, there is no doubt it is a red card and a bad challenge and I am a little surprised we had to wait so long for that decision to be taken.”