Arsenal Reportedly Considering Gabriel Appeal over Length of Defender's Ban

Arsenal are reportedly considering appealing the length of centre-back Gabriel's three-match ban imposed after the 24-year-old kicked out at Chelsea's Diego Costa on Saturday in a 2-0 win for the Blues.

Gabriel was sent off by referee Mike Dean in an ill-tempered game for gently kicking Costa—who was standing behind him—following a clash between the pair earlier on.

James Olley of the Evening Standard reports the Gunners are looking to appeal the length of the ban for violent conduct.

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic had a three-match ban reduced to two games last season following his dismissal for an angry reaction to a tackle from Burnley's Ashley Barnes.

On that occasion, the FA's regulatory commission cited the "level of force used" by Matic as a mitigating factor in the circumstances, per BBC Sport.

The same could certainly be argued of Gabriel's indiscretion, as though it was petulant and naive to kick Costa, he used very little force and effectively tapped the Spaniard with his studs.

It came after a prolonged spat between the two, and the Chelsea striker would no doubt have been delighted to have got such a reaction, per AFP's Tom Williams:

Match of the Day's Garth Crooks indicated he believed the red card was unnecessary given the situation:

Gabriel's dismissal just before half-time put Arsenal immediately on the back foot for the rest of the match, and their eventual defeat seemed inevitable from the moment the red card was shown.

The former Villarreal player is a key part of the Gunners defence, and they seem to have a case in appealing the length of his ban.

The quicker he returns to action, the better for manager Arsene Wenger, thus an appeal is likely forthcoming.