Pedro was shown a red card during the Community Shield meeting between Chelsea and Arsenal as the Gunners galloped to a victory on penalties
Chelsea failed to defeat Arsenal in their Community Shield face-off after losing out to Arsene Wenger’s side in the FA Cup final as well. Arsenal won with a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw but it was Pedro’s infamous red card which ended up being the single most talked-about point regarding the match.
The latest addition to Chelsea’s long list of masked men, Pedro initially looked rather lethal as he went up the flanks to break Arsenal’s defence. He did do well for the Blues as long as he was playing but then it all changed with a challenge on Elneny that got him a red card and arguably cost his team the game.
Pedro was given his marching orders after a shocking challenge on the Egyptian, while Sead Kolasinac headed Arsenal level from the resulting set piece. Chelsea were actually the better side in the second half and Elneny was going nowhere before Pedro raked his studs down the midfielder’s ankle.
It did not take too long for Twitter to react, and here are some of the best tweets:
Excellent refereeing.Fully deserved red card for Pedro. Irresponsible tackle.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) August 6, 2017
There was just 88 seconds between Pedro's red card and Sead Kolasinac's goal.
Live: https://t.co/7xwNICiolt #ARSvsCHE pic.twitter.com/X2evo0rmHx
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 6, 2017
BTW, to reiterate: this is NOT a competitive game. Pedro will NOT be banned following that red card. He can be selected to face Burnley.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) August 6, 2017
damn. respect to the ref for the pedro red card. not a malicious tackle but a dangerous one. no intention but he knew it was a red…
— sean-paul sartre (@william__hall) August 7, 2017
Pedro is the 1st player to receive a direct red card in the #CommunityShield since Branislav Ivanovic for Chelsea in 2012.
— OKYERE KWAME TAWIAH (@oktranking) August 6, 2017
Find you a man that looks at you the way Pedro looks at the red card ??#9mobileFootball pic.twitter.com/0cVmQ8y0Jy
— Soccer Nation (@SoccerNationNg) August 6, 2017
While majority of the fans agreed with the decision, there were a decent number of fans who believed that a red card was uncalled for, and that a yellow should have sufficed.
A foul yes. A red card challenge? Really? #pedro
— Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) August 6, 2017
Can't determine what's worse: the decision to give Pedro a red card, or our ability to take penalties. #CFC
— Llion Carbis (@carbislli) August 6, 2017
Lacazette didn't score btw
Pedro red card was unfair
Morata penalty miss was bad
Arsenal fans small club mentality on display like always— Jay Patel (@blueguyO9) August 7, 2017
Arsenal got the cheapest win ever. Pedro should of not got a red card. And all the arsenal fans say Morata hit the bar but so did Lacazette
— Nathan Chadwick (@realchadders) August 6, 2017
Just saw Pedro's red card. Those type of decisions are ruining football. It's become a non contact sport. If that's a red, the game's done.
— Sonny Black (@Buchanamania) August 6, 2017
While one side voiced strong opinions as to why it shouldn’t have been a red card, the other side too had pretty convincing arguments. Take a look:
Let's get it right, the Pedro challenge was a disgrace and could have snapped his Achilles. Definite red card.
— Ray Coffey (@RayBrisca) August 6, 2017
Only just seen the red card from today for Pedro. Poor tackle, looked like he knew exactly what he was doing. Red for me.
— Adam Haylett (@Adam_Haylett) August 6, 2017
This was a really nasty tackle from Pedro. Does anybody really doubt that it deserved a red card ? pic.twitter.com/hdhmHpsrn8
— Martin Wengrow (@MartinWengrow) August 6, 2017
That's great from Pedro. Pretending to be injured to avoid a red card. Unlucky mate
— Luís (@lvw103) August 6, 2017
