WHAT ARSENAL DID IN MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY APPEAL AS MICHAEL OLIVER COMMENT REVEALED

Latest Arsenal news and gossip as details from the FA have emerged about the Gunners' successful appeal for Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card against Wolves

Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly reacts after being sent off against Wolves (Image: PA)

Details have emerged over Arsenal's successful appeal against Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card against Wolves.

The Gunners defender was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver in the 1-0 win at Molineux in the Premier League last weekend. Riccardo Calafiori scored the decisive goal of the game for Arsenal to maintain their six-point gap behind leaders Liverpool in the title race.

Oliver's decision to send off Lewis-Skelly was confirmed by a VAR check but was met with plenty of controversy in the days that followed. Arsenal launched what proved to be a successful appeal against the dismissal, with the defender now available for the forthcoming Premier League fixtures rather than serving a three-match ban.

With Lewis-Skelly now available for Arsenal's clash against Manchester City, details have emerged about their successful appeal against last week's red card. The FA have published their report of the appeal, which includes the evidence the Gunners put forward for their case.

The report includes a statement from Oliver, who confirmed the reason for handing a red card to Lewis-Skelly.

“I have to report that I, as the Referee sent off Lewis-Skelly, Myles Anthony of Arsenal FC Under Law 12 section: S1," wrote Oliver in his official report to the FA.

The report goes on to list the evidence that Arsenal put forward to support their case that the red card for Lewis-Skelly was undeserving. One piece of evidence included several angles of the tackle from the Gunners defender in slow motion.

More evidence included footage of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes receiving a yellow card by Oliver for a similar challenge in the same game against Arsenal. Gomes would receive two bookings and also be sent off in the clash at Molineux.

Arsenal then went on to provide two previous cases involving Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister. The evidence involved incidents where both players were shown red cards in their respective matches, with the decisions subsequently overturned by the FA following an appeal.

As part of their appeal, Arsenal also provided evidence written by their associate general counsel, Mr Patrick Camerer Cuss. The document provided to the FA outlined why, in the club's opinion, the decision to give Lewis-Skelly a red card and a three-match ban was "excessive".

- Mark Wakefield

ARSENAL: PREMIER LEAGUE EXPLAIN CONTROVERSIAL DECISION TO SHOW MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY RED CARD AGAINST WOLVES

VAR confirmed Michael Oliver’s on-field decision

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY SAW RED AGAINST WOLVES
MIKE EGERTON/PA WIRE

The Premier League have explained the decision to show Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card in Arsenal’s match against Wolves.

The left-back was dismissed before half-time at Molineux in controversial fashion, after stopping a Wolves counter.

As the hosts looked to break after clearing an Arsenal corner, Lewis-Skelly came across and tripped Matt Doherty to stop the attack.

Referee Michael Oliver surprisingly showed a red card to the 18-year-old and that decision was then confirmed after a VAR check.

The Premier League Match Centre account on X posted: “The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play.”

- MATT VERRI

MAN CITY EDGE WOLVES THANKS TO DRAMATIC

Manchester City defender John Stones scored a controversial stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory at Wolves on Sunday, setting a club record of 31 league games unbeaten.

Champions City dominated possession from start to finish at Molineux, but were shocked in the seventh minute when a superb cross from Nélson Semedo was met with a composed close-range finish by Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Semedo missed a glorious chance to put Wolves further ahead in a one-on-one that Ederson saved, before City defender Josko Gvardiol picked up the ball in space and curled a beautiful shot past José Sá for a deserved 33rd-minute equaliser.

Stones' late goal from a corner went to a VAR check for a possible offside by Bernardo Silva in front of the goalkeeper, but it was allowed, to the delight of City manager Pep Guardiola and travelling fans.

"I'm really pleased to win in that fashion and get on the scoresheet again," said Stones, who also scored a late equaliser against Arsenal last month.

"It was a tough game. I've got to give credit to Wolves, how they stopped us creating chances, made it difficult for us in the final third," he added.

City briefly moved top of the league with 20 points before Liverpool retook the top spot with a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Bottom on one point and without a win this season, Wolves are staring at a battle against relegation unless they can start picking up wins.

Their manager, Gary O'Neil, was furious at the end of the game, after his team had defended valiantly against City, who enjoyed most of the possession.

"I am trying to remain calm," said O'Neil, who was livid on the touchline after the call. "I have been involved in a few of those and not had many go in our favour so was expecting that outcome.

"There is some grey area that can go either way and once it was like that, I wasn't confident it would go our way."

Referee Chris Kavanagh initially disallowed Stones' goal, believing Silva had blocked goalkeeper Sá's line of vision, but VAR deemed that was not the case. When Kavanagh saw footage at the side of the pitch, he overturned the decision, bringing boos ringing round the ground from the home fans.

Game Information

Molineux Stadium

4:00 PM, October 20, 2024

Coverage: USA Net/Tele

Wolverhampton, England

Line: MNC -1.5

Over/Under: 3.5

Attendance: 31,319

Referees: Chris Kavanagh

- Reuters