Arsenal were handed a major blow just before half time of their Premier League clash against Wolves at Molineux. With the score locked at 0-0 Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a surprise red card.
A tackle on Matt Doherty led to the defender being shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver for serious foul play. It was a decision that left Arsenal players angry and surrounding the referee.
The decision was also reviewed by VAR but it was concluded that a clear and obvious error hadn’t been made. In a statement, the Premier League Match Centre explained: “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.”
Amie Wilson
On first viewing, the decision to award a red card for the challenge seems very harsh. It feels like if that qualifies as a straight red, then they would be branded every other week. It’s one of those challenges that feels like a yellow card is the right punishment.
It does feel like it’s the sort of decision where VAR may have been able to intervene and at least send Oliver over to the screen to have a second look at the incident. The fact Myles-Skelly didn’t make an attempt for the ball is probably what has gone against the Arsenal man.
