IAN WRIGHT has joined the long-list of former professionals and pundits to be left reeling by the decision to send off Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly on Saturday.
Lewis-Skelly, 18, was shown a straight red card under controversial circumstances in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves yesterday.
Referee Micheal Oliver showed a red to Lewis-Skelly in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win[/caption]
The youngster tripped up Matt Doherty as Wolves launched a counter attack[/caption]
Arsenal players surrounded Michael Oliver in protest[/caption]
The decision was checked and not overturned by VAR[/caption]
It is Arsenal’s fourth red card of the season[/caption]
Lewis-Skelly was sent for an early shower after tripping Wolves defender Matt Doherty nearly 90 yards away from the Arsenal goal.
The cynical challenge left most fans expecting a yellow card, but the Hale End graduate was shown red by referee Michael Oliver instead.
Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes led the on-field protests as Arsenal’s players showed their frustration at the decision.
And now Gunners icon Ian Wright has weighed in on the incident, claiming that it’s “never a red”.
In a video posted on social media by the former Premier Legue bagsman, he fumed: “It’s a joke!
“Anyone that has ever played the game, and I’m not even talking Premier League, I’m talking five-a-side, Sunday league, knows that it’s never a red.
“Yellow card, nobody says a word. Time and time again, this level of refereeing [and] the decisions in the Premier League… the inconsistency, the excuses, the apologies.
“All of them are just the centre of attention for me. We can’t criticise too hard because, where are the refs going to come from? Where are we going to get them?
A closer look at Myles Lewis-Skelly’s straight red card against Wolves
pic.twitter.com/tDRLpLRESQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2025
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.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“But I’m sorry, this is the highest level of football and we do not have the highest level of referees. When will the Premier League bring the best refs into the so called ‘best league in the world’?
“Because at the moment, with this level of refereeing, we’re nowhere near it. Nowhere near it.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claimed he was “fuming” about the decision, but remained calm enough to suggest that he won’t be complaining.
Arteta told reporters that he hopes that an appeal won’t even be necessary and that the PGMOL will overturn the decision themselves as they did with Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Tottenham earlier in the season.
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.
“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.”
Should the decision stand then Lewis-Skelly is set to miss the next three games.
Ian Wright wasn’t the only high-profile name to publicly blast Michael Oliver’s decision.
Match of the Day host Mark Chapman claimed the red card was “baffling and nonsensical from supposedly one of our best referees”.
While BBC Five Live pundit Pat Nevin said labelling such a challenge serious foul play was setting “a bar so low even a limbo dancing snake couldn’t get under it”.
And even ex-Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara said: “I’m all for Arsenal having a beast but that is never ever a red card, one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. Jheez lol”.
The Premier League released a statement on X confirming the decision to send off Lewis-Skelly.
It 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.”
Mikel Arteta said he was ‘fuming’ after the red card[/caption]
Mark Chapman slammed the decision[/caption]
Pat Nevin also took aim at the officiating[/caption]
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
