Jamie Carragher slams "idiot" Luke Ayling after red card for "disgusting" two-foot lunge

Jamie Carragher has called Leeds captain Luke Ayling "an idiot" after he was sent off on Sunday for a shocking two-footed tackle on Arsenal youngster Gabriel Martinelli.

The 30-year-old, who started his career with the Gunners, recklessly flew into the challenge at pace and left Martinelli on the floor. The Brazilian's team-mates were furious with the tackle and a scuffle between the two sets of players unfolded at the Emirates.

Referee Chris Kavanagh booked Ayling for the foul, but VAR asked the official to take another look at the challenge. Kavanagh inevitably changed his mind and gave the Englishman his marching orders. Martinelli was able to continue playing.

"He's jumped in with two feet, studs showing," Arsenal legend Alan Smith told Sky Sports. "He was annoyed, I think, that the flag didn't go up - but that kind of challenge has no place in football these days. I would be surprised if the ref doesn't change his mind here."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Leeds defender Stephen Warnock said: "We all get frustrated, we understand your getting outplayed at the Emirates, you haven't had a kick of the ball. Martinelli is on fire he's got the run of you.

"But it's in the corner flag, why make the challenge? Why give the referee the opportunity to send you off? It's just ridiculous from Luke Ayling... Ayling has let the club down, he's let his fans down, the team mates down. Imagine what Joe Gelhardt is thinking, third start of the season and he gets dragged off because of a senior player being stupid.

"It's beyond me. We all make mistakes but at this stage of the season when you need a togetherness and you need all your players especially with the injury record that Leeds have got. They need him [Ayling],