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Mark Lawrenson explains why David Luiz red card may benefit Arsenal

Mathew Nash

Fri 19 June 2020 9:45, UK

BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has for the upcoming Premier League fixtures and revealed his belief that Arsenal may have benefitted from David Luiz’s red card against Manchester City. 

The Brazilian was sent off early into the second-half as Arsenal lost 3-0 to City and he will be suspended for the upcoming clash with Brighton. 

However, that is not the advantage Lawrenson was discussing, despite some Arsenal fans believing they are better off without Luiz during his current contract wrangle. 

The former Liverpool defender believes that Arsenal will win 2-0 at the Amex and believes the extra work they had to put in after being reduced a man might have helped them shake off some lockdown cobwebs. 

“…At least Arsenal have played now. I do think the teams with a game under their belt will benefit a lot, fitness-wise. In a strange way, the fact they went down to 10 men and got a bit of a chasing might help in that area too.

“Before it all went wrong for them, the Gunners did look quite lively on the counter-attack at Etihad Stadium and the same approach might work for them here.”

There is no doubt that prior to Luiz’s disappointing display, Arsenal were giving a good game of it against City. 

The fact they are now heading into the Brighton game with the advantage of already playing 90 minutes of football cannot be underestimated.  

Arsenal fans will just hope it has the impact that Lawrenson is predicting.