Mikel Arteta "Absolutely Angry" Over Myles Lewis-Skelly Red Card: Arsenal Defender Sent Off vs Wolves
Arsenal’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers ended in controversy after defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was given a red card, leaving manager Mikel Arteta fuming.
The incident occurred in the 68th minute of the Premier League clash at the Molineux Stadium, with referee Andy Madley issuing a second yellow card to Lewis-Skelly for a challenge on Wolves forward Rúben Neves. However, the defender protested the decision, and upon consulting with the VAR, the officials decided to upgrade the yellow card to a red, sending Lewis-Skelly off.
The decision left Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta "absolutely angry" as he felt the defender had been hard done by. "I’m absolutely angry about it," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. "I think it was a ridiculous decision. Myles is a correct and fair player who always tries to play with discipline and intelligence. To send him off with 22 minutes to go, it’s just not right."
The manager’s frustration was echoed by the Arsenal players, who felt that the red card was harsh and unnecessary. Midfielder Granit Xhaka, who had come on as a substitute, agreed with Arteta’s sentiments, stating that the decision had a significant impact on the game. "It’s disappointing, and we think it changed the game completely," Xhaka said. "We were in a good position, but after that, it was difficult for us to believe in ourselves. We knew he was innocent, and it’s a tough pill to swallow."
The Premier League side’s frustration was compounded as they eventually went on to lose the match 1-0, courtesy of a Rúben Neves goal. The result keeps Arsenal in the lower echelons of the table, and Arteta believes that the red card decision had a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
"This decision changed the game, and we lost because of it," Arteta emphasized. "We had a couple of chances in the second half, but with 11 men, I think we would have won the game comfortably. It’s another game we’ve dropped points in, and it’s frustrating because we feel that the decision was wrong."
The refereeing decision has once again raised questions about the accuracy and consistency of video assistant referees (VAR). The system, introduced in 2019, is designed to help officials make accurate decisions, but it has been criticized for its role in influencing the outcome of matches.
As Arsenal look to bounce back from their disappointing result, Arteta will need to regroup his squad and find a way to rebound from the controversy. However, the manager’s frustration with the refereeing decision will undoubtedly linger, with many in the football world sharing his concerns about the need for more accurate and fair refereeing in the Premier League.
