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2013 » April » 23 » Arsenal appeal against Giroud dismissal
Arsenal appeal against Giroud dismissal
The Frenchman was given his marching orders in the dying stages of the match after he caught the ankle of Fulham defender Stanislav Manolev when stretching for the ball.
Referee Andre Marriner had already sent off Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell earlier in the match, which was decided by Per Mertesacker's first-half goal.
The club's choice to appeal comes in contrast to comments made by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after the match.
"It looked like it [a deserved red card]. I spoke with Giroud and he said he slipped when he went for the ball. I don't complain about the decision," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"We have to find a solution up front now for the final games but that can happen and we have to deal with that."
Wenger's men have 63 points from 34 games and sit in pole position in the fight for Champions League qualification, with Chelsea and Tottenham – fourth and fifth respectively – both having a game in hand.
Giroud – who was given an automatic three-match suspension for the incident - has scored 11 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this campaign and netted a crucial late goal, as well as winning a penalty, in a 3-1 win over Norwich City last Saturday.
