Jack Wilshere was sent off after being involved in a mass brawl during the Arsenal under-23 match against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
Wilshere has yet to play for the first team this season, having spent the last one on loan at Bournemouth, but is now fit following his recovery from a fracture to the lower left leg suffered during Bournemouth’s 4-0 defeat at Spurs in April.
The 25-year-old was drafted into Steve Gatting’s side on Monday night, along with his fellow first-team squad players Rob Holding and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Wilshere had helped set up one of the goals as Arsenal were leading 4-1 during the second half before he was on the receiving end of a heavy tackle from the City midfielder Matthew Smith.
After getting to his feet Wilshere squared up to Smith before pushing him in the chest. In the ensuing fracas the City defender Tyreke Wilson ran to the centre circle to confront Wilshere, the two players grappling each other round the neck before team-mates became involved in shoving and tempers boiled over.
Once calm was restored, the referee showed the red card to both Wilson and Wilshere. Arsenal went on to win the match 4-3.
Speaking earlier this month, Arsène Wenger made it clear Wilshere, who is in the final season of his deal, remains a part of the first-team picture.
“At the moment, yes, I think I plan for him to be here for the whole season, after that we will see at the end of the season,” the Arsenal manager said. “He has the talent to be regular but he has to come back to competition in a consistent way.”