Leeds United full-back Luke Ayling has apologised to his teammates in the aftermath of his season-ending dismissal at Arsenal on Sunday.
United went into the game at Emirates Stadium firmly embroiled in a scrap for Premier League survival. A superb run of form from Burnley of late has dragged Leeds right back into the mix. And while the Clarets were beaten at home by Aston Villa on Saturday, Leeds still needed a positive result at Arsenal.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side went 2-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes. Their opener came courtesy of Eddie Nketiah, who made the most of hestitancy from Illan Meslier to fire home from close range. That said, Meslier was done no favours from Ayling’s back pass.
Ayling was also one of those at fault for Arsenal’s second after his side of the defence was badly exposed.
Worse was to come though as Ayling saw red following a reckless 27th-minute challenge on Gabriel Martinelli.
That left Leeds with a mountain to climb – and ultimately saw them fall to a defeat that left them in the relegation zone after Everton’s 2-1 at Leicester.
It won’t surprise you to learn that Ayling scored an embarrassing 2/10 in our Player Ratings from Emirates Stadium.
It also means Ayling – Leeds captain for the day in the absence of Liam Cooper – must serve a three-match ban. That rules him out of their final matches of the season, against Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford.
And on Ayling’s 500th appearance as a professional footballer, the experienced defender could scarcely have experienced worse days.
Leeds United did pull a goal back in the second half thanks to Diego Llorente’s fourth goal in Whites colours.
But the 10 men couldn’t salvage a miraculous point as their relegation feared heightened.
Luke Ayling apology
Sharing the apology Ayling offered his teammates at the break, The Athletic’s Phil Hay has revealed Ayling’s remorse.
“The red card went to Luke Ayling, captain against his boyhood club on his 500th…
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