Evening Standard
·25 de janeiro de 2025
Evening Standard
·25 de janeiro de 2025
Riccardo Calafiori ensured the controversial decision did not cost Arsenal victory
Mikel Arteta was left “fuming” by Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card in Arsenal’s win over Wolves and hopes any ban for the left-back is overturned.
Lewis-Skelly was sent off just before half-time of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Wolves on Saturday after bringing down Matt Doherty.
PGMOL later confirmed referee Michael Oliver gave the red card for “serious foul play” and Lewis-Skelly will face a ban, with Arsenal hosting Manchester City next week.
Arteta, however, hopes that does not happen as he believes it was “obvious” that the 18-year-old should not have been sent off.
The Arsenal manager highlighted how Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes had his red card against Tottenham earlier this season overturned in expressing his optimism that the same happens with Lewis-Skelly.
“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 directly if Arsenal will appeal the red card, Arteta said: “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 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.”
Lewis-Skelly has been one of Arsenal’s best performers at left-back in recent weeks, despite being just 18 and coming through the club’s academy as a midfielder.
And asked about the prospect of him now serving a ban, with Arsenal hosting Manchester City next week, Arteta said: “If we cannot change actually what happened today, hopefully at least it will be fair for the team, for the player and everybody what is going to happen in the next few weeks. That is what I am hoping.”