Gerrard, Foyth and Nketiah: The 10 fastest red cards for a Premier League substitute
Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah was brought on to help the Gunners protect a slim lead against Leicester City on Tuesday, but his introduction didn’t go to plan.
The young striker was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Leicester’s James Justin just four minutes after coming on.
The Foxes went on to equalise to snatch a point and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left to fume after Nketiah’s dismissal.
“We should have been three or four-nil up,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports at full-time. “With the red card you have to know he is a young kid.”
Nketiah lasted precisely four minutes and four seconds before departing.
But his sending off wasn’t even close to being the fastest by a substitute in the Premier League.
The Sun have listed the 10 fastest in the English top flight since 2006/07, and there have been seven speedier dismissals than Nketiah’s.
Steven Gerrard lasted just 38 seconds when he was brought on for Liverpool against Manchester United in 2015. A stamp on Ander Herrera saw Gerrard take an early bath after arriving at half-time.
Dave Kitson also lost his head shortly after coming on for Reading against Man United in 2007. A dangerous tackle on Patrice Evra resulted in Kitson being shown his marching orders 47 seconds after his arrival.
Here are the top 10 fastest sending offs for a sub since 2006/07.
1. Steven Gerrard | 38 seconds
Match: Liverpool vs Man United
Date: 22 March 2015
2. Dave Kitson | 47 seconds
Match: Man United vs Reading
Date: 12 August 2007
3. Keith Gillespie | 1 min 26 secs
Match: Reading vs Sheffield United
Date: 20 January 2007
4. David Meyler | 1 min 55 secs
Match: Portsmouth vs Sunderland
Date: 9 February 2010
5. Juan Foyth | 2 mins 13 secs
Match: Bournemouth vs Tottenham
Date: 4 May 2019
6. Kevin Mirallas | 2 mins 16 secs
Match: Swansea vs Everton
Date: 19 September 2015
7. Zoltan Gera | 3 mins 15 secs
Match: Fulham vs Arsenal
Date: 22 May 2011
8. Eddie Nketiah | 4 mins 4 secs
Match: Arsenal vs Leicester
Date: 7 July 2020
9. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov | 4 mins 45 secs
Match: West Brom vs Everton
Date: 14 May 2011
10. Paul Dummett | 5 mins 33 secs
Match: Liverpool vs Newcastle
Date: 11 May 2014
Just imagine it.
The manager turns to you in order to save the day and you repay his faith by getting sent off in a matter of minutes.
Or in Gerrard’s case, 38 seconds.
At least there’s probably no need to take a shower.
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