Lewis-Skelly shock: Sky Sports studio erupts at Michael Oliver over Arsenal
Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card against Wolves was “in no way” justified, according to a stunned Tim Sherwood.
The Gunners defeated Wolves 1-0 on 25 January as substitute Riccardo Calafiori scored the winning goal late in the game. However, Mikel Arteta’s side had to grind out the victory with ten men.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off just before the first-half whistle for tripping Matt Doherty.
The decision immediately sparked debate, with former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett telling Football Insider referee Michael Oliver was “wrong” to brandish a red card.
The Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panel also expressed outrage at the decision. Sherwood was particularly vocal, arguing it wasn’t dangerous play. He said (3.43 pm): “Michael Oliver the referee has given a red card to Lewis-Skelly. It’s a corner for Arsenal, they break, Doherty breaks and he just trips him. He’s 70 yards from goal! I cannot believe it!
“This is not a red card! It can’t possibly be. It’s cynical, he just trips him and brings Doherty down, but there’s no way. It’s too far away from the goal for this to possibly be dangerous play! You only send him off if it’s dangerous play.”
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean weighed in and explained: “He hasn’t kicked him; he’s gone to trip him and caught the bottom of his boot. I don’t think it’s a straight red card, in my opinion.”
Sherwood was further shocked when VAR didn’t intervene (3:44pm): “It’s a red card! He’s sent him off! He’s not gone to the monitor. VAR have obviously decided that that is dangerous play, Mike. They must, do?”
Paul Merson was equally aghast in the background and exclaimed: “What!? No way! No, no.”
Dean then clarified his stance after reviewing a still image: “I’ve got a still image here and when you see the still image you might understand what the referee’s done. He looks like he’s gone to kick him but he’s actually put his studs right down the inside of Doherty’s leg, so that’s why he’s sent him off. Serious foul play”.
“For me I can see why Michael’s sent him off. It’s not a kick, he’s scraped him down the Achilles with his foot, so I can understand why he’s sent him off now I’ve seen the still image.”
Sherwood later added, still in disbelief and said (3:52pm): “Boos from the Arsenal crowd there. I’m still reeling from it. I’ve just heard on the commentary that any point of contact above the ankle has to be a red card.”
Arsenal deal with adversity despite controversial decision
Football Insider Verdict
The North London side have now received four red cards this season, the most of any team in the Premier League. Despite going down to ten men, the team managed to recover and secure all three points.
Their task may have been made slightly easier when Joao Gomes was also sent off in the second half, just four minutes before Calafiori’s winning goal.
Calafiori making a comeback is ideal for Arteta’s side as they’ll be without their young full-back for three straight games that include Man City and second leg Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle.
However, the game could’ve been worse as it was a first half one to forget for Kai Havertz, who missed an “absolute sitter” before Lewis-Skelly was sent off.
He’ll be relieved the side managed to come away with a victory and remain second in the Premier League, and six points behind league leaders Liverpool.
In other news, Arsenal could miss out on these three transfer targets due to their inactivity.
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