Arsenal told referee saved them as Gary Lineker and Theo Walcott speak out

Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but the Gunners were fortunate to avoid a red card for Riccardo Calafiori

Gary Lineker and Theo Walcott concurred that Riccardo Calafiori was lucky to stay on the pitch in Arsenal's intense 4-2 victory over Leicester City.

Arsenal managed to stave off a potential disaster at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday after briefly surrendering their two-goal lead, with Leicester's James Justin delivering a surprise brace in the second half.

Despite the scare, Arsenal secured the win when Leandro Trossard's effort found its way past the keeper via a deflection off Wilfred Ndidi late into stoppage time, putting them ahead 3-2.

Rounding off the match, Kai Havertz netted Arsenal's fourth, though the talking point of the game remained Riccardo Calafiori's escape of a second yellow card for a challenge on Facundo Buonanotte.

Instead, it was Buonanotte who received a booking from referee Sam Barrott for gesturing that the Italian should be handed a red card.

On Match of the Day, Lineker expressed his views alongside Walcott and Micah Richards as he said: "He [Steve Cooper] thought Calafiori should've had another yellow card. I find it difficult to disagree with him." Even with his past allegiance to Arsenal, Walcott sided with Lineker, admitting: "I agree, I thought it was very lucky, it was cynical."

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Adding to the agreement, Richards echoed their sentiment, reinforcing the unanimous view that Calafiori should have seen a second yellow. "Last week Trossard [in Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Man City]... I didn't think it was a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Today, with Calafiori, I think that's a second yellow card. I think he was lucky to stay on the pitch."

Lineker then humorously suggested that if the player had been dismissed, Leicester "would've obviously then gone on to win 3-2". In his first Premier League campaign at the helm of Leicester, Cooper has yet to secure his first league victory and voiced his disappointment post-match regarding Calafiori avoiding a red card.

Cooper also expressed his grievances about the conceding of the first goal, claiming that Jamie Vardy was impeded by William Saliba moments before Gabriel Martinelli netted Arsenal's first goal.

"It's a clear foul on Jamie Vardy for the first [Arsenal] goal and the left-back has to get sent off for a second yellow," lamented Cooper. "There's so much more we could say. The whole game knows, but I'm not going down that road today. We were very disappointed with a foul not being given on Vards for the first goal."

Following their thrilling win, Arsenal climbed up to third spot, settling on equal points with Manchester City, who could only earn a 1-1 draw against Newcastle.

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