Chelsea: Pedro Neto hit with FA charge after Arsenal red card | OneFootball

Blues forward has already served a one-game suspension

Chelsea forward Pedro Neto has been hit with a Football Association (FA) charge following his sending off against Arsenal.

Neto was shown two yellow cards during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat in the Premier League, one for dissent after Jurrien Timber's goal and another shortly after for taking down Gabriel Martinelli, thus stopping an Arsenal attack in the process.

The winger protested his innocence to referee Darren England before belatedly heading down the tunnel, with Chelsea playing the final 20 minutes plus stoppage time at the Emirates Stadium with a man less.

Neto has until March 9 to respond to the charge. If the charge is proven, it remains to be seen the winger will face an extended suspension or a fine.

Neto has already served his one-match ban as he sat out Chelsea's impressive 4-1 win over Champions League qualification rivals Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

As it stands, he will be back in contention for their FA Cup fifth round tie against Wrexham this weekend and the Premier League match at home to Newcastle on March 14.

Dismissed: Pedro Neto

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Neto’s red card against Arsenal was Chelsea’s seventh in the Premier League this season, prompting Liam Rosenior to admit a“deep-lying” problem at the club.

“As a group, me as the leader as well, we have to take more accountability for some of the decision-making we're having in terms of our discipline and in terms of the moments of the goals,” Rosenior said.

“Some of them are just not acceptable at this level.

“You can fine players. It's not about the punishment, it's about finding the reason why. It's a focus and a concentration thing that we need to get right.

“I know the record of the club is not great from the start of the season, and now it's getting bad. We had 10 games when I was in where we didn't have these issues, but we've had two in two games. There's something deep-lying that we need to get to the bottom of.

“The thing is, for me, if we get to the bottom of those two main things, we can be a very, very good team and we can achieve all the things we want to achieve.”