Guendouzi avoids FA ban after grabbing Brighton’s Maupay by the throat
Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has escaped being punished by the Football Association after his altercation with Neal Maupay.
At the end of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Brighton, the pair collided where Guendouzi was seen grabbing the forward by his throat.
An official statement from the FA reads: “Matteo Guendouzi’s conduct during this incident was not seen by the match officials at the time, but it was subsequently reviewed by the VAR, so he will face no further action.”
The pair had collided earlier in the game too as the Arsenal players reportedly blamed Maupay for injuring goalkeeper Bernd Leno. In the first half, the forward jumped into the German goalkeeper which caused him to land awkwardly and suffer a potentially serious knee injury.
Leno is likely going to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines but the extent of his injury is currently unknown.
Arsenal and Brighton have also been warned and reminded of their responsibilities by the FA after their players brawled at the end of the match following Guendouzi and Maupay’s initial confrontation.
With Arsenal without Granit Xhaka for Thursday’s game against Southampton, this news will be a positive for head coach Mikel Arteta who will be able to play Guendouzi.
