Chelsea star Pedro Neto charged by FA over Arsenal incident as statement released

Pedro Neto became the seventh Chelsea player to be sent off in the Premier League this season during last weekend's defeat to Arsenal (Image: Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The Football Association have charged Pedro Neto for acting in an 'improper manner' after he was sent off during last weekend's defeat to Arsenal . The Chelsea winger has been alleged to have failed to leave the pitch promptly and to have directed abusive language towards the match officials upon being given his marching orders.

An official statement from a spokesperson at the FA reads: "Pedro Neto has been charged after being sent off in the 70th minute of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC on Sunday 1 March.

"It’s alleged that the player acted in an improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly; and/or used abusive words towards the match official/s. Pedro Neto has until Monday 9 March to provide a response."

Darren England first booked Neto for dissent midway through the second half, shortly after Jurrien Timber fired Arsenal into the lead . The Portugal international was cautioned again and subsequently dismissed a couple of minutes later for a rash tackle on Gabriel Martinelli.

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Neto appeared to plead his innocence before laving the field of play. Then, rather than head down the tunnel at the Emirates Stadium, the 25-year-old exchanged a few words with the fourth official, Stuart Attwell.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Liam Rosenior addressed the concerns with his side's discipline . The Blues boss said: "It's disappointing for Pedro because he's a very, very good player and we want him on the pitch.

Pedro Neto cynically fouls Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal for Chelsea and is sent off (Image: Premier League / Sky Sports)

"Up to that moment, he was actually causing Arsenal so many problems. It's a frustrating thing for us, not just today, but we're going to miss him against Aston Villa. But it's not just Pedro.

"I think 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, not just today, the goals we conceded. Some of them are just not acceptable at this level."

On how he plans to solve his side's discipline problem, Rosenior said: "You can fine players. It's not about the punishment. It's about finding the reason why.

Pedro Neto became the ninth Chelsea player of the season to be shown a red card (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside)

"I don't think Pedro Neto today or Wes Fofana last week would have in that moment been thinking about, if I get a red card, I'm going to get fined. 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."

The Chelsea boss added: "I said last week I'm learning about the group, and I'm learning about certain people in certain positions. The actual scheme hasn't changed up until this week, in terms of how we go about that.

"But it's something that's come into our game, which is something that's costing us points, and that we need to change very quickly..."