‘One of the worst decisions I’ve seen’ – should Lewis-Skelly have seen red?

The decision left Mikel Arteta “fuming”, pundits were baffled, while Arsenal fans were furious.

The Gunners may have won the title game against struggling Wolves with a 1-0 victory, but Myles Lewis-Skelly’s contentious red card won the show.

In the 43rd minute Lewis-Skelly caught Wolves ‘ Matt Doherty above the ankle to break up a counter-attack on the edge of Wolves ‘ box – about 70 yards away from Arsenal’s goal.

The video assistant referee (VAR) upheld the 18-year-old’s decision by the referee, who showed her a straight red card.

Arsenal manager Arteta explained to BBC Match of the Day that the decision was “so obvious that today you don’t need my words.”

“I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you”, he said to Sky Sports.

“Because it is that obvious, I don’t think my words are going to help”.

At an Arsenal corner, Wolves cleared their lines and looking to start a counter-attack, Doherty took the ball from the edge of the penalty area and drove forward.

Lewis-Skelly caught Doherty’s shin and then foot, bringing the defender down, a challenge which the Premier League Match Centre described on X as “serious foul play”.

VAR reviewed the call and quickly decided against sending the referee to the pitchside monitor after Oliver quickly showed a red card.

On the Premier League’s website it says high, full and forceful contact on the ankle or above is “considered dangerous” and a “red card”.

The division’s record goalscorer, Alan Shearer, said the sending off was “one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time”.

“As a referee you can get it wrong on the pitch, you might see something which is incorrect”, he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“How on earth does the VAR think the referee has that right, and there is no need to send him to the screen,” he asks.

Asked if Arsenal will appeal against the decision, Arteta told Sky Sports: “That’s for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it’s that obvious, maybe we don’t even need to”.

Unless overturned, the Arsenal academy graduate will face a three-match ban, missing his side’s matches with Manchester City and Leicester City in the Premier League, and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Calafiori, a substitute for Arsenal, told Sky Sports that Lewis-Skelly was “disappointed for the team” and that it was “clearly not a red card coming off the bench.”

Former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin: “Myles Lewis-Skelly is only 10 yards outside the opposition’s box. It must be for violent conduct, but that doesn’t look like violent conduct. It’s a cynical trip. That is something I have never witnessed. I am stunned by a red card”.

Former Manchester City centre-back Nedum Onuoha: “It’s not definitely a red card for me. With more replays, I now understand why it is the right course of action. Perhaps the referee realizes that Myles Lewis-Skelly isn’t intending to play the ball. It’s a tough moment for Arsenal. I believe the youngster needs to be aware that there are many different ways to do that.

“That’s not a red, that will get overturned very quickly. He tries to stop the counter-attack and it doesn’t look very bad to me”.

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Chapman: “Baffling and nonsensical”

Paul: “Good decision. Absolutely fed up with players deliberately attempting to pass the ball without making an effort to get it away.

Tim: “Fans and managers need to band together and strike to express all of our dissatisfaction with the quality of the referees.” I’m not an Arsenal fan but that’s NEVER a red card. If that’s a foul every tackle is a red”!

Tocowa: “Seen worse tackles not even yellow-carded”.

For Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal was their fourth in the Premier League this season, one more than any other side.

The Gunners have not suffered any grievances as a result of a red card.

Arteta once more stated that the decision was “so obvious” that he would leave it up to the media to decide when Leandro Trossard received a second yellow for time-wasting against Manchester City in September.

Arteta has also criticised this season’s decision to send Declan Rice to Brighton and send William Saliba to the Seagulls for penalties.