Arsenal edge Wolves but Arteta 'fuming' over controversial Lewis-Skelly red
Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly reacts after being shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Riccardo Calafiori saved Arsenal and possibly controversial referee Michael Oliver from any embarrassment with a second half winner that keeps Mikel Arteta’s hopefuls within six points of Premier League favourites Liverpool.
Calafiori was only on after Arsenal had Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off in bizarre fashion for a trip just outside the opposition area on Wolves defender Matt Doherty. Cynical without a doubt but a yellow card by the rule book.
‘Michael Oliver, it’s not about you’ chanted the Arsenal supporters – a refrain they continued wen the official balanced proceedings by sending off Wolves’ Joao Gomes after 70 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Calafiori, on at the break to cover for Lewis-Skelly, drove in the winner from a half cleared corner four minutes later.
Arsenal supporters scream about agendas against their side about referees such as Oliver. There is nothing to back it up, of course, but the two parties do have history.
Here two years ago he booked Gabriel Martinelli twice in one movement to mark the first time an official had shown two yellow cards in on uninterrupted period of play. Bizarre. In September this season even Manchester City manager pep Guardiola sided with Arsenal when he sent off Leandro Trossard for kicking a ball away having let identical offences in the same match go unpunished.
Either way, it helped spice up what otherwise have been a routine, cold Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal could and should have had the match well won before any of the controversy. Kai Havertz twice failed to scored with headers from tantalising Leandro Trossard crosses. The German missed the target with one and had another saved by Jose Sa.
The red card to Lewis-Skelly followed and Arsenal seemed happy to see the first half out before they could receive instructions for a reshuffle at the break. Arsenal’s mindset was dialled into attack and gamble at all costs and they dominated for a spell, even with ten men. Havertz missed his third headed opportunity and Declan Rice had a stinging shot well saved by Sa.
Wolves gradually made advantage of their extra man, however and created a series of chances of their own with Arsenal transfer target Matheus Cunha missing the target with two great chances and having another saved superbly by David Raya.
Oliver was then at it again with a second yellow and red card for Gomes. Wolves coach Vitor Pereira was apoplectic on the touchline, the home fans fell silent and the travelling Arsenal fans just laughed at the overt ridiculousness of the apparent ‘levelling up decision by the referee.
As Arsenal fans and players celebrated at the final whistle Wolves supporters could be heard calling for their owner to sell the club!
Afterwards, Arteta was reluctant to speak about the Lewis-Skelly red, except to admit he was 'fuming'.
“It is that clear that I leave it to you guys,” said Arteta. “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.”
Asked if Arsenal would appeal, Arteta added: “Well, hopefully we don’t need to and, if we have [to], it happened and it’s a really good precedent what happened with Bruno (Fernandes) 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.”
Sa 7, Semedo 6, Doherty 6 (Guedes 87), Bueno 6, Agbadou 6, Ait-Nouri 6 (R.Gomes 87), Andre 6, J.Gomes 6, Sarabia 7, Cunha 6, Larsen 5 (Hwang 32). Subs: Johnstone, Dawson, Toti, Lima, Doyle, , Bellegarde.
Raya 7, Timber 6, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Lewis-Skelly 6, Partey 6, Rice 7, Nwaneri 6 (Calafiori 46), Trossard 7, Martinelli 6, Havertz 5. Subs: Neto, Porter, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji
Ref: Michael Oliver 0
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