Myles Lewis-Skelly’s straight red card for a foul on Wolves Matt Doherty was the fourth dismissal served to an Arsenal player this season and all have carried a degree of controversy.
None appeared more cut and dry bad decision than Michael Oliver’s to dismiss the teenager at Molineux, with the VAR upholding the initial call to add another layer of bafflement to it all.
Beyond Arsenal staff, players and supporters, the red has been widely condemned by pundits - but it is also easy to understand why the Gunners are so aggrieved because of what has gone before.
August 31 - Declan Rice - Brighton (h) 1-1
At the beginning of the campaign players were warned that referees would be clamping down on the ball being kicked away when the game was brought to a halt. As PGMOL chief Howard Webb said: “We’ve made it very clear and strongly to the players of the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle has gone.”
Rice had conceded a free kick near the corner flag but as Brighton ’s Joel Veltmann sought to take it quickly, the England midfielder nudged the ball away with his right foot - and subsequently caught a decent boot from the Albion full back.
The decision came with Arsenal winning 1-0 but Joao Pedro levelled not long after Rice was directed off.
“I have no choice,” said referee Chris Kavanagh in audio played later. “I don’t like it… you’ve got to go, Dec.”
Declan Rice was sent off for kicking the ball away.
September 22 - Leandro Trossard - Man City (a) 2-2
If the Rice decision was a warning shot, Arsenal players failed to heed how pedantic referees would be.
This was another big call from Oliver, who showed Trossard a second yellow for kicking the ball away late in the first half. Again, Arsenal were one goal to the good and they almost held out only to concede to John Stones in the 97th minute.
Afterwards the Key Match Incidents panel said the decision was correct because "Trossard clearly delays the restart by kicking the ball away." However one panellist thought the "split-second nature of the kick away was enough of a mitigating factor.”
And since then the approach from referees towards such perceived delays of game has become more ambivalent - further frustrating Arsenal.
Michael Oliver sends off Leandro Trossard for kicking the ball away.
October 19 - William Saliba - Bournemouth (a) 2-0
Having initially been shown a yellow by referee Robert Jones, VAR Jarred Gillett recommended a review that saw the France centre back shown a straight red instead for denying a goalscoring opportunity by hauling Evanlison to the floor as he counterattacked.
At the time the game was scoreless but Andoni Iraola’s side went on to win 2-0.
Arsenal decided against appealing the decision, which meant Saliba was banned for the meeting with Liverpool, with Webb saying Jones was initially wrong to only give a yellow.
Arteta, meanwhile, called on his team to “eradicate” reds because “we cannot continue to play with ten men at this level.”
William Saliba was judged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity.
January 26 - Myles Lewis-Skelly - Wolves (a) 0-1
Oliver showed little hesitation before reaching for the red in his back pocket after seeing Lewis-Skelly stretch his right boot out to bring down Doherty as he sought to counterattack.
It was cynical and warranted a certain yellow but VAR Darren England did not refer Oliver to the pitchside monitor because he believed it warranted a dismissal.
The Premier League later said it was “serious foul play” - a decision almost no one else has agreed with.
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