London – Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey apologised to the club's supporters on Wednesday after being sent off in his side's 0-0
Champions League play-off draw away to Turkish side Besiktas.
“Thank you to all the fans that made the trip,” Ramsey wrote on his official Twitter page. “Sorry for the red card. I'm sure the lads will do the job in the second leg.”
The Welsh midfielder, 23, was sent off in the 80th minute of Tuesday's game in Istanbul after picking up two yellow cards.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was critical of Serbian referee Milorad Mazic's decision to dismiss Ramsey, describing it as “unbelievable”.
“I think not the first and not the second yellow card was deserved for Ramsey,” Wenger told reporters.
“When you see some of the fouls committed and you go home with a red card for Ramsey, it is somewhat unbelievable.”
Ramsey, who scored the winning goal in last season's FA Cup final and was voted Arsenal's player of the year, will now be suspended for next week's return leg at the Emirates Stadium. – Sapa-AFP