THE 10 men of Arsenal overcame the 12, and then 11, of Wolves to keep their title challenge alive with a Riccardo Calafiori winner.
That is how it must feel for Mikel Arteta, his players, every Gooner and most unbiased observers after referee Michael Oliver made one of the worst decisions ever seen.
Oliver confirmed his status as Arsenal’s least favourite official when he sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first half.
Against all common sense,Oliver ruled the teenager’s cynical trip on Matt Doherty 30 yards from the Wolves goal to be violent conduct.
Somehow VAR let the call stand.
But Arteta’s team channelled their fury. And shortly after Oliver made it 10 v 10 by sending Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes off for a second yellow card, Calafiori scored what could turn out to be a vital goal.
The Italian had come on at half time to replace Lewis-Skelly at left back so it felt like justice of a sort that he turned the ball in neatly after Nelson Semedo’s poor header from a Gabriel Martinelli cross.
But the Arsenal fans who abused Oliver and accused him of making the game all about him will nor forget his latest intervention.
Oliver and Arsenal have history.
On this same ground in February 2022, the referee booked Gabriel Martinelli twice in quick succession for blocking a throw-in and then immediately committing a foul.
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Then earlier in this campaign, he showed Leandro Trossard a second yellow card against Manchester City for kicking the ball away.
But this was arguably the worst decision of them all and could have proved so costly for the Gunners.
Arteta had enough problems anyway.
He welcomed back William Saliba and Ethan Nwaneri for their first starts since injury, but found himself without captain Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
The Spaniard had picked up an unspecified knock while Odegaard had been sent back to London because of illness after travelling to the West Midlands with the team.
Wolves started nervously at the back, almost presenting Arsenal with chances to score.
Yet it was the home side who threatened first.
Captain Nelson Semedo’s charge down the right and cross deserved better than Pablo Sarabia volleying the ball over the crossbar.
After that it was all Arsenal.
Leandro Trossard sent in tempting crosses for Kai Havertz twice. The German sent his first header wide but seemed to have got the second right, angling it back across Jose Sa.
But the Wolves goalkeeper kept the ball out with his right leg, probably more by luck than judgement.
Nwaneri wasted a good sight of goal from a free kick 20 yards out but little more happened until Oliver’s moment of madness.
As Wolves tried to break after a poor Declan Rice corner, Lewis-Skelly brought down Matt Doherty with a cynical trip about 30 yards out..
Yellow card, all day long.
Not in Oliver’s world. Out came the red, and Arsenal went ballistic.
There was no way Lewis-Skelly had denied a goalscoring opportunity, even without taking into account it was Doherty who was fouled.
Yet the PGMOL’s explanation that the young Arsenal star wasa guilty of serious foul play was simply nonsense. The challenge was not high, nor was their excessive force or serious danger to Doherty.
VAR Darren England should have told Oliver to think again. But England was the man guilty of the worst error with the technology in Premier League history, when he and his team failed to correct an offside call against Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in the game against Tottenham in September 2023.
Jurrien Timber was booked for his protests and the away fans let Oliver know exactly what they thought of him. You could only have sympathy.
Arteta sent on Riccardo Calafiori for Nwaneri at half time to rebalance his team.
The Arsenal supporters were soon singing, “Michael Oliver, it’s all about you”.
Their team were equally defiant, pinning Wolves back after the break and Rice stung Sa’s hands with a rasping shot.
At the other end, Hwang Hee-Chan, who had replaced the injured Jorgen Strand Larsen in the first half, tested David Raya with an effort from distance.
Then Sarabia could only divert a cross wide. It became end to end stuff.
Havertz headed a Rice free kick over the bar, then Raya made an acrobatic stop from Matheus Cunha.
And from the resulting corner, alleged Arsenal target Cunha could only shoot wide when the ball fell to him just outside the six-yard box.
Then things got interesting. Joao Gomes fouled Timber unnecessarily in the Arsenal penalty area and was shown a second yellow card. 10 v 10, Game very much on.
The inevitable soon happened.
Martinelli curled in a cross and Semedo’s header dropped to Calafiori, who turned it in on the half volley with the kind of poise you don’t expect from a defender.
The Arsenal players ran to celebrate with Arteta, his backroom team and the substitutes, all of them knowing how important a goal it was.
It felt like Wolves had blown their chance, and so it proved.
Rayan Ait-Nouri burst through on the break but Raya came out to make a decent save.
The Arsenal goalkeeper dealt easily with a Cunha effort.
And the Gunners pulled off an against-the-odds, against-the-referee victory that could yet inspire them to overhaul leaders Liverpool.
DANGO QUATTARA ran the show as Bournemouth demolished Nottingham Forest.
Justin Kluivert netted the opener against the surprise package team of the Premier League inside nine minutes.
Dango Quattara took the game by the scruff of the neck as he sealed the victory for the hosts.
He netted his first in the 55th minute before adding two more to seal his hat-trick before full-time.
Antoine Semenyo put the cherry on top as he added a fifth in the 91st minute.
The stunning win for the Cherries sees them keep pace in the race for European football.
More to follow…
THE family of “amazing” Leo Ross who was knifed to death on his way home from school have paid tribute as a teen, 14, has been charged with murder.
The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has been remanded into custody to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday having been charged this afternoon with Leo’s murder and possession of a bladed article.
Leo, aged 12, was found injured near Scribers Lane at around 3.40pm on Tuesday, and sadly died in hospital at around 7.30pm.
As a result of a thorough investigation and review of all available evidence, we have also charged the 14-year-old boy with six additional assaults, none of which involved the use of a knife.
All of the victims of those offences have been notified and are being supported by officers.
The charges are for:
Our specialist officers continue to support Leo’s family and we have informed them of the latest developments.
Leo’s family said today: “We want everyone to know what an amazing, kind, loving boy Leo was.
“Not only has Leo’s life been taken, all of our lives have as well.
“Leo will be truly missed by all of us. He was loved so much by everyone.
“The family want to thank the school, the police and everyone involved in the investigation and supporting us all through this horrific time.”
The tragic death of Leo has had a devastating impact on his family, friends, school and the wider community.
Our officers continue to have a high-profile presence in the area to offer support and reassurance.
The investigation into Leo’s death continues and we are still appealing for anyone with information.
SUNDAY’s Allianz Football League Division 1 clash between Kerry and Donegal has been postponed.
The news comes after severe weather conditions, preventing Donegal from traveling to the south of Ireland.
The game was originally set for Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.
But it the opener has been called off after consultations with Croke Park brass ahead of further poor weather is expected.
At least 715,000 homes and businesses were plunged into darkness as the most violent storm in decades battered Ireland.
A Status Red warning was in place for the entire island, with forecasters after Storm Eowyn made landafall on Friday.
The fixture is thought to be rescheduled for the weekend of 8/9 February, with details on Monday.
The Division three clash between Leitrim and Laois has been rescheduled to Sunday at 2pm at the same venue due to electrical issues caused by Storm Éowyn.
It was set to take place on Saturday afternoon in Ballymore but has been pushed back a day due to the historic storm.
Although the GAA noted in a statement on Saturday that the game is still in doubt as they continue to monitor the situation.
A statement read: “The situation will be monitored throughout the day in advance of the game tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, a pitch inspection is planned for Sunday ahead of the Division 2 football clash between Westmeath and Louth.
In the Allianz Hurling League, Westmeath’s game against Laois was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
While Mayo’s meeting with Cavan has also been delayed.
ARSENAL finally won a match with ten-men after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.
The wonderkid was surprisingly given a red card for a foul on Wolves star Matt Doherty at the end of the first-half in a decision that was described as “nonsensical”.
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 Cunha effort wide.
He then stopped 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