Manchester City's Rodri will be sidelined for the early October Premier League encounter with Arsenal due to a straight red card received for violent conduct during the match against Nottingham Forest.
During a tense altercation shortly after half-time, the Spanish midfielder confronted Morgan Gibbs-White, first pushing him in the chest and then appearing to grip his hands around the Forest attacker's throat.
In response to this unsporting behaviour, referee Anthony Taylor had no choice but to issue Rodri a straight red card, marking the first such incident in his professional career. VAR subsequently confirmed the decision after a brief review.
Rodri, a vital component of Pep Guardiola's team, will be unavailable for the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Newcastle on the following Wednesday, as well as Premier League clashes against Wolves on September 30th and Arsenal on October 8th.
There is a possibility for City to appeal the decision, though the likelihood of success in this endeavour remains uncertain.
The clash against Arsenal is particularly significant in the early stages of the title race, as Mikel Arteta's Gunners posed a formidable challenge to Guardiola's side last season. Arsenal clinched the Community Shield in a penalty shootout in the first competitive match of the current season, with Cole Palmer's goal being canceled out by a late Leandro Trossard equalizer.
However, in their encounters last season, City emerged victorious on all three occasions, with Rodri playing every minute of those games.
Before Rodri's expulsion, City had established a commanding 2-0 lead, demonstrating dominance in the first half. During this period, Rodri showcased his prowess, completing 75 passes, recovering the ball five times, and boasting an impressive 96 percent pass accuracy.
Although Forest had managed to regroup and prevent further goals in the first half, they were allowed back into the game due to an uncharacteristic moment of recklessness from a player who is typically known for his composure.
