Arsenal to benefit from strange law for Boxing Day fixture

The Gunners suffered back-to-back defeats before they bounced back to register an impressive victory over Burnley at the weekend.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang banged in a brace to take his Premier League tally to 12 and without no doubt be looking to increase that number against Brighton.

Brighton's misfortune will be Arsenal’s fortune when the two sides meet at the Amex Stadium on Boxing Day.

The south coast club, who are without a win from their last three matches, will miss one of their key players for the Premier League clash - captain Lewis Dunk.

The 27-year-old defender was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in his club's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend.

However, the first caution was wrongly awarded. Mike Dean thought Dunk fouled David Brooks but he didn’t - his team-mate Yves Bissouma did, who escaped the caution.

Because the yellow card had already been awarded Dean had no choice but to send Dunk off when he slid in on Junior Stanislas.

When players are sent off for mistaken identity clubs have the rights to appeal the decision...but only when it's a straight red offense.

Because Dunk's 'foul' was a yellow card, Brighton are not eligible to lodge a wrongful dismissal complaint. 

The law states: "A claim of wrongful dismissal may be lodged only for on-field offences which result in a sending off, except for two cautions leading to a dismissal."

The bizarre law implies that Brighton will be without their star player, handing Arsenal a welcome boost for the Boxing Day clash.