Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka to miss trip to Chelsea through suspension

Arsenal will be without Granit Xhaka for next month's showdown with Premier League leaders Chelsea after he was banned for four games.

Xhaka, 24, was sent off by referee Jon Moss for a two-footed challenge on Steven Defour in Sunday's dramatic 2-1 victory at home to Burnley.

It was the Switzerland international's second red card of the season, having also been sent off by Moss in a home win over Swansea City in October, meaning he gets an additional game on top of the standard three-game ban.

Unless Arsenal launch a successful appeal, Xhaka will miss the FA Cup tie at Southampton as well as the Premier League dates with Watford, Chelsea and Hull.

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Manager Arsene Wenger said Xhaka's sendings off were "punishing" Arsenal and added that although he had not seen a replay of the incident "the noises that I get say that it was a red card."

He added: "He has to control his game and not punish the team with a lack of control in his tackling.

"We don't encourage our midfielders to go down on tackles, we want them to stand up and not to make this kind of foul. If it's a bad tackle it's a red card."

It was Xhaka's ninth sending off since 2014, while he has also given away two penalties this season.

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