Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was deemed fortunate to escape a second booking in the Gunners' Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven.
Lewis-Skelly was already on a yellow card when he brought down PSV's Richard Ledezma deep inside the Gunners half. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarded a free-kick for the challenge, but opted not to give the teenager his marching orders.
The Arsenal youngster was sent off against Wolves earlier in the season, only for his ban to later be overturned. He wasn't as fortunate in the defeat to West Ham, though, picking up a straight red for denial of a goalscoring opportunity when he brought down Hammers star Mohammed Kudus.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta decided to take no chances, substituting Lewis-Skelly for Riccardo Calafiori before half-time. It was a decision supported by fans, who considered the youngster fortunate to still be on the pitch.
"Arteta needs to get Lewis-Skelly off now!!" one fan wrote on social media. "We’ve got Calafiori, [Jakub] Kiwior, [Ben] White and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko on bench so it needs to happen before he’s sent off. If left on and he does get the red then Arteta will get so much stick and he’d deserve it."
"Feel sorry for Lewis-Skelly getting hooked that early but making that tackle while on a yellow was braindead," wrote another fan. "Myles Lewis-Skelly needs to relax," wrote a third, accusing him of poor discipline.
"Lewis-Skelly is a very lucky lad for still playing," was the verdict from a fourth."That's definitely a second yellow card. Thank God the ref used his head."
Speaking on Prime Video Sport, commentator Alan Shearer was unsurprised by the early change. "It was always going to be a matter of time before that change, Riccardo Calafiori for Myles Lewis-Skelly took place," he said. "They have put themselves in a good position, three goals up, so why run the risk of going down to ten men. Sensible decision.
Arsenal were already three goals to the good when Lewis-Skelly was substituted. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring before Lewis-Skelly laid on a second for Ethan Nwaneri, and Mikel Merino made it three.
They couldn't quite hold that advantage through to the break, though. Noa Lang pulled one back from the penalty spot, with Thomas Partey going into the book after conceding the kick.