Olivier Giroud conceded a straight red card for a serious fowl play on Stanislav Manolev on Saturday, Arsenal FC’s appeal to the Football Association for an overturn of red card decision have fallen into deaf ears.
Olivier Girould must go on and serve his three match barn as the club struggle to secure UEFA Champions League qualification.
After the game, Arsene Wenger said Girould had slipped as he went to tackle Manolev, and an appeal was lodged with the FA.
The incident was deliberated on by an Independent Regulatory Commission. The verdict reached is that the France international must serve his three match ban.
The FA decided against adding a further game for frivolous appeal, meaning Giroud will miss the new league champions’ trip to the Emirate, and the games against QPR and Wigan. However he will return for the final game of the season at Newcastle.
Giroud has started as a lone striker in each of the past nine games and his absence will render Wenger short of strike options.
Either of Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott and Gervinho might be called upon to fill Giroud’s space.
