Coquelin apologises for daft red card vs. Spurs: 'I thought I could get the ball'
Arsenal defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin apologised to supporters after his sending off altered the course of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
Up a goal at White Hart Lane and already on a yellow for grabbing the ball while lying on the pitch following a first-half tackle, Coquelin slid in to prevent a Harry Kane run early in the second half.
"I actually thought I could get the ball when I slide-tackled (Harry Kane) - that is why I went for it. I touched him and (the referee) gave me the second yellow," Coquelin told the club's website.
Related - Wenger: 'We told Coquelin' not to be reckless before red card
Match official Michael Oliver brandished a second yellow before the Frenchman walked off the pitch to the delight of Spurs supporters.
Tottenham didn't wait long to capitalize, scoring two goals in a two-minute window to regain the lead before Alexis Sanchez's 76th-minute equaliser snatched a point for the visitors.
"I didn't really see the goal (because I was in the dressing room) but someone came and told me that we scored the second one - it was a relief for me," Coquelin said. "I did not want us to lose today because at 1-0 I thought we were doing great."
Great indeed: Aaron Ramsey's deft backheel opener flipped the match on its head and emboldened the visitors, only for Coquelin's lapse of judgment to let the Spurs back into the fixture.
"A point today is a good point, it is a great result for us. I'm really sorry to all the fans for the red card, I think with 11 against 11 we could have won the game as we were playing really well. This red card changed the game. I'm really sorry to the club, to the team and all the fans."
While Arsenal's performance may have briefly quieted its critics and their claims that the club lacks character and resolve, Leicester City's narrow defeat of Watford later Saturday leaves the north Londoners eight points off the top with nine to play.
"But at the end of the day, it's a good point and hopefully it will be an important point for the title," Coquelin said.