Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has pleaded his innocence after he was sent-off for elbowing Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas at the end of their 4-1 defeat at Goodison Park.

The Spaniard told evertonTV: "I never try to hurt anybody or kick someone because I am not a player like that. I have not even got a yellow card this year and I had a straight red card like that which I think he wanted to give to somebody and I was the one.

"I can't understand it - he didn't whistle when the challenge was done and after three seconds when he saw Fabregas on the floor I knew he was going to send me off.

"I think it was a normal challenge and I am going to be out for three games which is so disappointing."