An “absolutely fuming” Mikel Arteta is confident Arsenal will not have to appeal Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card at Wolves this afternoon as he thinks it will be overturned.
The teenage full-back was sent-off late in the first half at Molineux for what appeared a fairly innocuous foul on Matt Doherty on the edge of the Wolves box.
Referee Michael Oliver was quick to show a straight red with VAR Darren England feeling there was no need to send the official to the pitch-side monitor.
Wolves had Joao Gomes sent off with 20 minutes to go and Arsenal took full advantage, substitute Riccardo Calafiori firing home the only goal four minutes later.
Arteta told Sky Sports: “It’s incredible what the boys did again. In the context that we were thrown in again, it was about character, personality of the team, courage and intelligence to play the game we wanted to play. It was exceptional.”
On Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal, he added: “It is that clear that I leave it to you guys [the media]. 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 am absolutely fuming” 😡
Mikel Arteta on the decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off against Wolves 🟥 pic.twitter.com/6H0tvl2NEi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
Asked if Arsenal would appeal, he said: “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.”
Shearer baffled by red card
BBC pundit Alan Shearer labelled the decision “one of the worst I have seen in a long time”.
The former England captain said: “As a referee you can get it wrong on the pitch, you might see something which is incorrect.
“How on earth Darren England, the VAR, thinks that the referee has got that right and there is no need to send him to the screen.
“One of the worst decisions that I’ve seen in a long time.
I just cannot see and work out what VAR is thinking going along with Michael Oliver’s decision.
“No wonder it gets criticised by so many people.”
