Arsenal defender Gabriel has been cleared of violent conduct after an incident involving Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The Premier League's Key Matches Incidents Panel ruled unanimously that no red card was warranted for the contact in the fifth minute of last week's 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
The panel, made up of three former players or coaches, a Premier League representative and a Pro Ref official, reviewed the challenge. "The panel unanimously supported the referee's call of no red card," the KMI Panel said. On-field referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England had also taken no action during the match.
The incident occurred as multiple players contested a loose ball in the Chelsea penalty area early in the London derby. The decision means Gabriel avoids any retrospective suspension, a significant boost for a squad already missing defenders Ben White and William Saliba through injury.
It preserves Arsenal's defensive options as they aim to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season. The win over Chelsea was part of a flawless opening, with the team now sitting top of the table with 12 points from four games. Their recent form shows five consecutive wins across all competitions.
Mikel Arteta's side followed the Chelsea victory with a 4-2 win at Ipswich and now face a trip to fifth-placed Brighton this weekend. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page. Arsenal's next challenge is an away match against Brighton on Saturday, 19 September.
More detail at The Athletic
