Mikel Arteta blasts "harsh" red card

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has claimed that he did not deserve to be sent off during his side's win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Spaniard was shown a straight red card by referee Chris Foy after he was adjudged to have pulled down Marouane Chamakh when the Palace striker was through on goal.

However, Arteta believes that the dismissal was the wrong decision.

"It was a very harsh decision to send me off," he told the club's official website. "Chamakh kicks my right foot, I have seen it on television. It is 40 yards away from goal too.

"It is true that I tried to block him with my hand but then he came with his left foot into my right calf and then we were both on the floor. It was never a tackle from me."

Chamakh had earlier scored from the penalty spot as Arsenal stayed at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory.