Former Gunner makes disastrous Premier League debut | OneFootball

Former Arsenal academy defender Harry Clarke had a full Premier League debut to forget with Ipswich Town this weekend.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Harry Clarke of Ipswich Town leaves the pitch after being shown a red card following a second yellow card for a foul on Keane Lewis-Potter of Brentford (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Ipswich Town FC at Gtech Community Stadium on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Arsenal academy graduate Harry Clarke joined the Gunners from Ipswich Town back in 2015, and he spent seven and a half years with the club before returning to Ipswich in early 2023.

At the time, Ipswich were a League One club, but Clarke became a regular as they were promoted to the Championship months after his arrival, then promoted again the next season.

Clarke’s return to the top flight came sooner than expected, yet he had to wait for a Premier League debut after Achilles surgery in the summer.

The defender made his injury comeback as a substitute last week, before making his full Premier League debut against Brentford on Saturday.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Yoane Wissa of Brentford takes a shot before Harry Clarke of Ipswich Town (right) goes on to score an own goal and Brentford’s second during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Ipswich Town FC at Gtech Community Stadium on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

At first, things appeared to be going well. Ipswich took a 2-0 lead, and Clarke was earning praise from his team’s supporters. Then things quickly went from good to bad and then ugly.

After Yoane Wissa got Brentford back into the game at 2-1, Clarke scored an own goal equaliser just before half time. Sliding in to try and block a square ball in front of goal, the defender unintentionally dragged it over the line.

Clarke then conceded a penalty early in the second half, also picking up a yellow card in the same incident as Brentford took the lead.

But the nightmare wasn’t over yet, with Clarke receiving a second yellow midway through the second half for a foul just outside the penalty area.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Harry Clarke of Ipswich Town leaves the pitch after being shown a red card following a second yellow card for a foul on Keane Lewis-Potter of Brentford (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Ipswich Town FC at Gtech Community Stadium on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The Premier League confirm that it’s just the second time in their history that a player has scored an own goal, conceded a penalty, and been sent off in the same game. It’s the first time it’s ever happened to a player making their first Premier League start.

Fortunately, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna wasn’t quick to criticise the former Gunner after the game.

“It’s his Premier League debut and he’s not stated a game since April, so he’ll get plenty of support from us,” McKenna said.

“He did some good things in the game — there were some good things in his performance — but there were a few things, of course, a few defensive moments that’ll he’ll want to do better on and he’ll be disappointed with.

“But he’s a young player making his Premier League debut, coming back from a very big injury, and because of injuries we have we’ve had to throw him pretty much straight into the team, where ideally he’ll have had a longer period of maybe coming off the bench.”

“He’ll take his mistake on the chin I’m sure and look to learn from it.”