Michael Oliver should be DROPPED for sending off Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly in ‘major error’, slams former referees’ chief
MICHAEL OLIVER should be DROPPED by the Premier League after his “major error” in sending off Myles Lewis-Skelly.
That’s the opinion of former head of the PGMOL Keith Hackett after Oliver’s card-happy performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves.
Oliver controversially sent off Gunners’ teenager Lewis-Skelly during the first half at Molineux on Saturday.
The full-back, 18, was given his marching orders for a challenge made on Matt Doherty just before the break.
Lewis-Skelly brought down Doherty as Wolves tried to counter, resulting in Oliver dishing out a straight red.
VAR upheld the decision, leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta “absolutely fuming.”
Hackett believes the decision was a “major error” by both Oliver and Darren England on the VAR.
And he called for the Premier League to stand down the experienced whistler.
Speaking on TalkSPORT’s Sunday Edition with Shaun Custis and Henry Winter, Hackett said: “I’d be admitting this morning that this is a major error, that you don’t expect the alleged number one referee to make.
“He’s on top of the incident. I think he’s too close and so I think he requires operational advice.
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“I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks.”
Hackett called for more “accountability” following the incident.
And he was speechless that England had been allocated a spot on the VAR for Sunday’s clash between Crystal Palace and Brentford.
He continued: ” Darren England’s allocated a game this afternoon at Crystal Palace.
“So as VAR, he would not be on that game.
“I’m quite clear that there needs to be seen to be a level of accountability.”
Hackett also recommended that the Premier League look at reforming the way VAR is run.
MARK HALSEY: Questions have to be asked of VAR after Lewis-Skelly sending off... here's what SHOULD have happened
By Mark Halsey
VAR Darren England should have recommended a review as soon as referee Michael Oliver showed Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty.
An official has to decide whether the challenge was careless or reckless — careless is a free-kick only, reckless is a yellow card — or worthy of a red card.
When a player lunges at an opponent with one or two feet from the front, the side or from the back which endangers the player’s safety with excess force or/and brutality, it must be sanctioned with a red.
I saw it as a reckless challenge worthy of a yellow, not a red.
So why did Darren not recommend a review? Once the red card was shown, the VAR should have intervened.
If Michael had the opportunity to view the challenge again, I’m sure he would have changed his mind, cancelled the red card and issued a yellow.
As for Arsenal fans’ views that Michael is biased against them, I’m not buying into that. You can never question the integrity of a match official and Michael is one of our best referees.
Officials cannot get everything right and that is why we have VAR to help. So questions have to be asked of Darren.
With the second yellow for Joao Gomes after catching Jurrien Timber on the ankle, you could argue that was a worse challenge than the Lewis-Skelly one.
He added: “There is no doubt in my mind that the VAR panel should be independent.
“Not active referees, to be honest.
“I do believe that this is a problem that Oliver has with the VAR people and personnel.
“You want them to build a relationship up, you want them to be a team and tightly knitted, but there’s also got to be trust.
“Last night, I’d have been on the phone to Darren England, if I was Michael Oliver, asking why he let him down.”
Despite going down to the ten men, Arsenal ground out a priceless 1-0 victory to keep themselves in the title race.
Oliver had his cards out again in the second half at Molineux, sending off Wolves’ Joao Gomes for a second yellow card.
But it was Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal – and his subsequent three-game ban – that had the Gunners raging.
Arsenal player ratings: David Raya saves all three-points for Arsenal but Trossard’s woeful deliveries an issue again
ARSENAL finally won a match with ten-men after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.
It was the Gunners’ fourth sending off this season and they had not won any of their matches without 11 players this term.
But Arsenal showed their character and battled past Wolves 1-0.
Here is how SunSport rated the players’ performances.
DAVID RAYA – 8/10
Very little to do until the 63rd minute when he brilliantly tipped a deflected Matheus Cunha effort wide. He then stopped Rayan Ait-Nouri in a one-on-one in the 84th minute.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6
Was having another fine game before being the victim of one of most ludicrous red cards in Prem history. His cynical trip was worthy of a yellow and nothing more.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Arsenal just look so solid with him in this backline. A welcome return from a minor hamstring injury. Kept Cunha at bay.
GABRIEL – 7
Led from the front and put his body on the line. Constantly headed away from danger.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
Hit with some nasty challenges that required treatment – including one that had Joao Gomes sent off – but carried on playing and was resolute.
DECLAN RICE – 7
More of a goal threat than in recent weeks and stood up when Arsenal needed him.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Steady Eddie for most parts back in his favoured midfield position after spells at right-back this season. Displayed his importance to this side once more.
ETHAN NWANERI – 6
Unfortunately made way at half-time as a sacrificial lamb following Lewis-Skelly’s sending off. Was a lively, creative spark in the first-half.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
In the absence of Bukayo Saka, the Belgian is on corner-taking duty, but his deliveries were woeful. A quiet afternoon that sums up why he is in and out of the team currently.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Was lacking that clinical edge in the first half, but came up with the cross after the break that led to Arsenal’s vital opener.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Missed two glorious first half chances with his head and another in the second half, but worked tirelessly on his own – especially with Arsenal down to ten.
SUBS:
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (NWANERI, 45) – 8
The sort of goal that keeps title dreams alive. Added real height and danger aerially, as well as a sweet volley from a tough angle.
KIERAN TIERNEY (MARTINELLI, 87) – N/A
Arteta fumed to Sky Sports after the game: “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.”
Gunners legend Ian Wright also slammed the decision and accused refs of attempting to be the “centre of attention.”
Wrighty said in a social media post: “It’s a joke.
“Anyone that has ever played the game, and I’m not even talking Premier League, I’m talking five-a-side, Sunday league, knows that it’s never a red.
“Yellow card, nobody says a word. Time and time again, this level of refereeing [and] the decisions in the Premier League… the inconsistency, the excuses, the apologies.
“All of them are just the centre of attention for me. We can’t criticise too hard because, where are the refs going to come from? Where are we going to get them?”
Wright’s Match of the Day colleague Mark Chapman claimed the red card was “baffling and nonsensical from supposedly one of our best referees”.
While England legend Alan Shearer blasted it as “one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time.”
And Jamie O’Hara – a former player at Arsenal’s big rivals Tottenham – wrote on X: “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.”