Arsenal news: Controversial referee appointment after fresh verdict on Gabriel red card

Arsenal and Chelsea players speak to referee Chris Kavanagh (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal have been involved in heated debate surrounding referees following their recent 2-1 win over Chelsea. Mikel Arteta's side maintained their perfect record to begin the season but attention now turns to the Champions League, where the Gunners face Napoli and hope to go one step further than last season's final.

Despite losing the 2025 showpiece event to back-to-back winners Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, Arsenal have strengthened through Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis. They will be hoping to make an immediate impact on Wednesday and Express Sport has all the latest news from the Emirates...

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Controversial referee appointment

Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will officiate when Arsenal travel to Napoli on Wednesday. Should that name ring a bell, it's because he oversaw the Gunners' home encounter against Bayern Munich during the 2023/24 edition of the tournament.

It ended 2-2 in a match dominated by penalty decisions. Harry Kane converted Bayern's second goal from the spot, yet Nyberg opted against awarding Arsenal a penalty following a controversial incident between Bukayo Saka and Manuel Neuer late in the game.

The Bayern encounter was not Nyberg's first time officiating a match featuring the north London club. He previously took charge of a group stage fixture during the same campaign, when Mikel Arteta's side claimed a victory away at Sevilla.

Glenn Nyberg was met with arguments from Bukayo Saka against Bayern. (Image: Getty Images)

Former Manchester United stars Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young believe Gabriel was fortunate to escape a red card during Arsenal's win over Chelsea. The pair both felt the Brazilian international could have been sent off after his boot made contact with visiting goalkeeper Emi Martinez's head.

"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 on Match of the Day.

Young felt the same, saying: "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 of if they've properly studied it because he's nowhere the ball. He's got away with one there."