Arsenal appeal against Vermaelen red card

Arsenal have appealed against the red card shown to Thomas Vermaelen in Saturday's match against West Ham.

The club confirmed their challenge to the decision this evening and the appeal will be heard tomorrow.

Defender Vermaelen was ordered off shortly before half-time for bringing down Guillermo Franco inside the penalty area.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 and went on to win 2-0, with West Ham's Alessandro Diamanti missing the penalty which followed Vermaelen's dismissal.

A statement from the Football Association on Arsenal's website said: "The FA has received a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.

"Vermaelen was shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity during Arsenal's match against West Ham United on Saturday 20 March.

"A regulatory commission will hear the claim on Tuesday 23 March."