SEEING RED
Premier League release statement on ‘nonsensical’ Myles Lewis-Skelly red card vs Wolves with Arsenal fans left fuming
Mikel Arteta gave explosive interview at final whistle
ARSENAL players have been left fuming and fans have slammed "the worst decision ever" after Myles Lewis-Skelly was surprisingly sent off.
The 18-year-old was given a red card for a foul on Wolves star Matt Doherty after 43 minutes.
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The hosts had just defended a Gunners corner when they looked to break away on the counter-attack.
Doherty sprinted away with the ball and was 90 yards from the Arsenal goal when he was cynically tripped by Lewis-Skelly.
Most expected a yellow card to be given, but he was instead given a red by referee Michael Oliver.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel led the complaints, sprinting up to the official to protest.
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They were then joined by a fuming William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, who all shouted and waved their arms in frustration.
Following a VAR check, the refs decided to stick with the on-field decision and Lewis-Skelly trudged off the pitch.
He looked perplexed as headed down the tunnel and argued with the fourth official on his way.
Manager Mikel Arteta also looked displeased and pointed to his head, encouraging his players not to lose their tempers.
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The Premier League released a statement explaining the red card, which read: "The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play."
BBC host Mark Chapman labelled the decision “baffling and nonsensical from supposedly one of our best referees.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey slams decision not to overturn Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card in Arsenal's win over Wolves
Piers Morgan added: "FFS… another absolutely ridiculous red card. Lewis-Skelly sent off for a trip, just a nonsense decision."
Journalist Henry Winter added: "If that trip is considered serious foul play then there will be a torrent of red cards every game. I’ve re-watched it eight times now and it’s a trip and a yellow. Ridiculous decision."
Arsenal fans also took aim, with one saying: "I don’t say this lightly, but I think that red card for Lewis-Skelly is the worst decision I’ve ever witnessed at a football stadium."
A second wrote: "This is an absolute shocker."
A third commented: "Game is gone. A disgrace."
Some had even stronger feelings, with another supporter writing: "Enough is enough. It’s bias. It’s corruption."
Arsenal player ratings: David Raya saves all three-points for Arsenal but Trossard’s woeful deliveries an issue again
ARSENAL finally won a match with ten-men after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.
It was the Gunners' fourth sending off this season and they had not won any of their matches without 11 players this term.
But Arsenal showed their character and battled past Wolves 1-0.
Here is how SunSport rated the players' performances.
DAVID RAYA – 8/10
Very little to do until the 63rd minute when he brilliantly tipped a deflected Matheus Cunha effort wide. He then stopped Rayan Ait-Nouri in a one-on-one in the 84th minute.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6
Was having another fine game before being the victim of one of most ludicrous red cards in Prem history. His cynical trip was worthy of a yellow and nothing more.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Arsenal just look so solid with him in this backline. A welcome return from a minor hamstring injury. Kept Cunha at bay.
GABRIEL – 7
Led from the front and put his body on the line. Constantly headed away from danger.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
Hit with some nasty challenges that required treatment – including one that had Joao Gomes sent off – but carried on playing and was resolute.
DECLAN RICE – 7
More of a goal threat than in recent weeks and stood up when Arsenal needed him.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Steady Eddie for most parts back in his favoured midfield position after spells at right-back this season. Displayed his importance to this side once more.
ETHAN NWANERI – 6
Unfortunately made way at half-time as a sacrificial lamb following Lewis-Skelly’s sending off. Was a lively, creative spark in the first-half.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
In the absence of Bukayo Saka, the Belgian is on corner-taking duty, but his deliveries were woeful. A quiet afternoon that sums up why he is in and out of the team currently.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Was lacking that clinical edge in the first half, but came up with the cross after the break that led to Arsenal’s vital opener.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Missed two glorious first half chances with his head and another in the second half, but worked tirelessly on his own – especially with Arsenal down to ten.
SUBS:
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (NWANERI, 45) – 8
The sort of goal that keeps title dreams alive. Added real height and danger aerially, as well as a sweet volley from a tough angle.
KIERAN TIERNEY (MARTINELLI, 87) – N/A
More reacted: "He [Oliver] can’t be allowed to ref our games anymore."
In the second-half, things were evened up when Wolves also went down to ten-men as Joao Gomes picked up a second yellow card.
Arsenal went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a strike from Riccardo Calafiori as Arteta's side kept six points off Liverpool at the top of the table.
Speaking after full-time, boss Arteta admitted he was “fuming” over the red card that sees the youngster miss the next three games.
He said: “It is that clear that I leave it to you guys. I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you - because it is that obvious. I don’t think my words are going to help.
“I think it is that obvious that we don’t need any comments today and hopefully the right thing will happen after today.
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“Hopefully we don’t need to (appeal) and, if we have [to], it happened and it’s a really good precedent what happened with Bruno this season as well.
“So, hopefully, okay we were in a position we shouldn’t be in. At least, let’s be in a position that we should be in for the next few weeks and allow that player to continue to do his job.”
MARK HALSEY: Questions have to be asked of VAR after Lewis-Skelly sending off... here's what SHOULD have happened
By Mark Halsey
VAR Darren England should have recommended a review as soon as referee Michael Oliver showed Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty.
An official has to decide whether the challenge was careless or reckless — careless is a free-kick only, reckless is a yellow card — or worthy of a red card.
When a player lunges at an opponent with one or two feet from the front, the side or from the back which endangers the player’s safety with excess force or/and brutality, it must be sanctioned with a red.
I saw it as a reckless challenge worthy of a yellow, not a red.
So why did Darren not recommend a review? Once the red card was shown, the VAR should have intervened.
If Michael had the opportunity to view the challenge again, I’m sure he would have changed his mind, cancelled the red card and issued a yellow.
As for Arsenal fans’ views that Michael is biased against them, I’m not buying into that. You can never question the integrity of a match official and Michael is one of our best referees.
Officials cannot get everything right and that is why we have VAR to help. So questions have to be asked of Darren.
With the second yellow for Joao Gomes after catching Jurrien Timber on the ankle, you could argue that was a worse challenge than the Lewis-Skelly one.
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