MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY has seen red again – just weeks after his controversial sending-off at Wolves.
The Arsenal teenager was given his marching orders during the second half of Saturday’s clash with West Ham.
Lewis-Skelly was initially shown a yellow card after dragging down Mohammed Kudus as he attempted to break in on goal.
The teenager was caught in possession on the halfway line, with Arsenal pushing for an equaliser in North London.
West Ham led thanks to a first-half strike from Jarrod Bowen.
Kudus nicked the ball off Lewis-Skelly, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya miles off his line.
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With the Hammers forward in the clear, the Gunners defender lunged in to try and poke the ball away.
He made limited contact with the ball, bringing Kudus down and after an initial yellow card, Craig Pawson upgraded it to red following a VAR review.
The Premier League explained: “VAR checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Lewis-Skelly for a challenge on Kudus – deeming it denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity due to the goalkeeper’s position and there being no covering defender, therefore recommended an on-field review.
“The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.”
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Lewis-Skelly has been shown two reds this season, following a controversial sending-off against Wolves last month.
The 18-year-old received a straight red at Molineux for a cynical foul on Matt Doherty on January 25.
On that occasion, Lewis-Skelly made the tackle on the edge of the Wolves area as they attempted to counter.
The decision was slammed by pundits and former officials, including ex-head of the PGMOL Keith Hackett.
Hackett called for ref Michael Oliver to be SUSPENDED over the “major error”, which prompted a debate over the use of VAR in the Prem.
The Premier League confirmed that VAR supported the decision as Lewis-Skelly was guilty of “serious foul play”.
But Arsenal later launched an appeal and the FA subsequently lifted Lewis-Skelly’s suspension.
An FA statement on January 28 read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Myles Lewis-Skelly and removed his three-match suspension.
“The Arsenal player was sent off for serious foul play during their Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, January 25, 2025.”
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.
The PGMOL later confirmed police had launched an investigation into the “abhorrent abuse” targeting Oliver after the game.
It read: “We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture.
“No official should be subject to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.
“The police are aware, and a number of investigations have commenced.
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SunSport has also revealed how Lewis-Skelly is close to a call-up for England – despite making less than 10 Premier League starts.
The teenager has yet to play for the England under-21s but has caught the eye of new boss Thomas Tuchel.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
