Mikel Arteta admitted he was “absolutely fuming” with the controversial dismissal of Myles Lewis-Skelly and called on the Football Association to overturn the red card.

Lewis-Skelly was sent off by referee Michael Oliver for a foul on Wolves’ Matt Doherty late in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win, with Arteta suggesting that his club may not even appeal as the decision was so poor.

The full-back became the third-youngest player to be sent off in the Premier League at 18 years and 121 days, behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.

Arteta declined to criticise Oliver directly but was clearly seething and highlighted the FA’s decision to overturn Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes’s red card against Tottenham in September (see video below).

He said: “I am absolutely fuming because it is that obvious, I don’t think my words are going to help. It is that clear that I will leave it to you and hopefully the right thing will happen after today.

“It’s for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it’s that obvious, maybe we don’t even need to [appeal]. It’s a really good precedent to what happened with Bruno this season as well. We are in a position we shouldn’t be in.

“Hopefully it will be fair for the team and the player what is going to happen in the coming weeks. That’s what I’m hoping.”

The Premier League Match Centre posted on X: “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.”

Arsenal recovered from the dismissal to secure a victory that keeps them in second place, six points behind leaders Liverpool.

Substitute Riccardo Calafiori provided the only goal of the game 14 minutes from time, revealing after the match his own thoughts on Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal.

“From the bench, it was clearly not a red card,” he said. “I saw him at half-time and he was so disappointed for the team but in the end we won, so nothing happened. He is a good footballer and a good guy, so we help him a lot.

“It’s so important to get this win, as you can imagine. But we want to win the next one as well. We want to continue like this.”

The decision sparked incredulity across the game, with Pat Nevin saying on BBC Radio 5Live: “The bar was so low, even a limbo dancing snake couldn’t get under it.”

Mark Chapman, presenting, said it was a “baffling and nonsensical [decision] from supposedly one of our best referees”.

Arsenal took a corner that was cleared on 42 minutes, which started a Wolves breakaway. Myles-Skelly then appeared to catch Doherty, his challenge making contact with the Wolves defender’s shin.

João Gomes was sent off in the second half for the home side after receiving his second booking 20 minutes from time.

Jacqui Oatley, the commentator, claimed she could hear the VAR commentary in her headphones. She suggested that the Lewis-Skelly red card was because of contact above the ankle. Gomes was not given a straight red – but a second yellow that led to his dismissal – as his contact was deemed to be with Jurrien Timber’s foot.

This is a reckless challenge at worse. It does not fulfil the criteria for serious foul play. It is a major error by the referee Michael Oliver. Arsenal will definitely appeal this. Myles Lewis-Skelly was too far from the goal to be deemed the last man, with two covering Arsenal players as well.

What the law says on serious foul play

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent, is guilty of serious foul play.

Michael Oliver’s history in this fixture

The referee was at the centre of controversy in this fixture in February 2022, when he sent Gabriel Martinelli off for two yellow cards shown in 10 seconds.

“It is the first time I have seen a red card like this in 18 years that I have been in this league,” said Mikel Arteta at the time. “I think you have to be pretty willing to give a red card in that situation.”

Arsenal went on to win the match 1-0 at Molineux.

Reaction

Jamie O’Hara, who played for Tottenham and Wolves, said: “I’m all for Arsenal having a beast but that is never ever a red card. One of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.”

Chris Sutton, the former Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker, said: “Arsenal red card is a shocker… it’s not even a great debate … if that’s serious foul play heaven help us all … total incompetence from the VAR operators.”

Former Tottenham player and manager Tim Sherwood, commentating on the match on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, said: “I am still reeling from it, I can’t believe Michael Oliver has sent him off.”