Aston Villa are set to be without João Gomes against Arsenal after the midfielder’s red card during Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton. Gomes was dismissed for violent conduct on his Premier League debut, an offence which normally carries an automatic three-match suspension.
Gomes’ first league appearance for Villa ended after just 40 minutes at the Amex Stadium.
The summer signing kicked out at Georginio Rutter following a VAR review, adding to an already disastrous afternoon for Unai Emery’s side. The Guardian reported the dismissal as violent conduct as Villa suffered a 4-0 opening-day defeat against Brighton.
João Gomes set to miss Aston Villa vs Arsenal
The timing leaves Emery facing another significant selection problem.
Under FA disciplinary regulations, a dismissal for violent conduct results in an automatic three-match suspension.
Gomes is therefore set to miss Villa’s next Premier League fixture against Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday, 31 August.
He should also be unavailable when Emery’s side travel to Hull City on Saturday, 5 September.
The precise third fixture covered by the ban will depend on the scheduling of Villa’s EFL Cup third-round tie.
Premier League guidance confirms that red-card suspensions apply across domestic league and cup competitions rather than only the competition in which the dismissal occurred.
Villa enter the EFL Cup in the third round because of their European involvement, with those ties scheduled across 9 and 16 September.
If Villa play their cup tie before hosting Nottingham Forest on 12 September, that match would count towards Gomes’ suspension. Otherwise, Forest would become the third fixture he misses.
Emery handed another midfield problem
Gomes’ absence comes at a difficult time for Villa.
The Brazilian had only just returned from a calf problem to start alongside Boubacar Kamara at Brighton.
His inclusion was one of the surprises in Emery’s confirmed XI for the Premier League opener, but the afternoon quickly unravelled.
Brighton scored four times inside the opening 31 minutes before Gomes compounded Villa’s problems with his dismissal.
Read Aston Villa covered the red card during Gomes’ nightmare Premier League debut.
His suspension now leaves Emery needing another midfield solution against defending champions Arsenal.
Leon Goretzka is expected to complete his move to Villa after a full agreement was reached, although his availability for the Arsenal fixture will depend on the completion of his medical, registration and subsequent preparation with Emery’s squad.
For Gomes, the focus now shifts away from a difficult debut and towards when he can return.
Unless Villa successfully challenge the dismissal, his next appearance will have to wait until his three-match suspension has been served.
