An experienced Tottenham Hotspur player received his marching orders after making a shocking tackle during an international friendly on Tuesday.
It has been a positive international break for Tottenham players, with a total of 17 Spurs players sealing their spots in next summer’s World Cup.
One of those is Rodrigo Bentancur, who will be at next summer’s tournament, with Uruguay having wrapped up a spot at the 2026 World Cup last month.
However, the South American side, who are managed by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, were humbled by tournament hosts the United States on Tuesday.
Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for Uruguay
Mauricio Pochettino’s men thrashed Uruguay 5-1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday.
Bentancur started the game and played 64 minutes before being sent off for a horror challenge.
The Tottenham man slid into a tackle with his foot high and with his studs showing, going over the top of the ball before catching an opponent on the shin.
Bentancur is expected to start for Spurs against Arsenal
Thomas Frank has continued to defend the midfield pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur and has tended to default to the same double-pivot in big matches.
One would expect the same pairing to start at the Emirates on Sunday, particularly with Pape Sarr a doubt to be fit for the Arsenal clash.
From a Tottenham perspective, it is thus not a bad thing that Bentancur did not play 90 minutes in Florida, albeit that is not the manner in which the 28-year-old would have wanted his evening to end.