Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista given one-match ban for pitch protest

Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista was given a one-match ban by the Football Association on Friday after accepting a charge of improper conduct following his controversial dismissal at Chelsea.

London: Arsenal defender Gabriel was given a one-match ban by the Football Association on Friday after accepting a charge of improper conduct following his controversial dismissal at Chelsea.

Gabriel was sent off for kicking out at Chelsea forward Diego Costa in the Gunners` 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

The FA announced on Tuesday it had accepted Arsenal`s challenge to referee Mike Dean`s decision and withdrawn the three-match suspension as replays showed he didn`t make contact with Costa, but the Brazilian defender has not escaped all punishment.

Gabriel had protested angrily and briefly refused to leave the pitch following the fall-out from his clash with Costa and his new punishment for that behaviour means he will now serve a one-match ban at Leicester this weekend.

"Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Arsenal defender Gabriel will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of improper conduct," a statement from the FA read.

"The charge relates to Gabriel`s behaviour following his dismissal in or around the 45th minute of the game against Chelsea on Saturday (19 September 2015).

"The player, who requested a personal hearing, was also fined £10,000 and warned as to his future conduct."

The news is a blow to Arsenal ahead of the trip to in-form Leicester, but manager Arsene Wenger had already admitted earlier on Friday that he expected a new ban for Gabriel.

"He was sorry for what happened and very disappointed, but he is a fighter and his attitude in training the whole week was completely focused and motivated," Wenger said.

"If there is no punishment we are a bit lucky, if there is a punishment I have to take it."