Myles Lewis-Skelly red card: PGMOL says tackle that earned Arsenal defender red card at Wolves was high and late

PGMOL says the foul which resulted in Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial red card during Arsenal's win at Wolves was high and extremely late.

Arsenal are nevertheless still expected to appeal the dismissal amid widespread criticism of Michael Oliver's decision.

Lewis-Skelly was sent off for fouling Matt Doherty near the edge of the Wolves box.

The decision was "checked and confirmed" by Darren England, with the VAR deeming Lewis-Skelly to have committed "serious foul play".

"I cannot believe Michael Oliver has sent Lewis-Skelly off there," said Zone Sporty VIP' Tim Sherwood.

"It is that clear and I will leave it to you guys," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Zone Sporty VIP. "I am absolutely fuming. But I will leave it with you, it is that obvious that I don't think my words are going to help."

PGMOL's position on the incident is the challenge is extremely late, the point of contact is high and video evidence supports that conclusion.

In the second half of Arsenal's win, Joao Gomes was only shown a yellow card for a high and late tackle on Jurrien Timber.

Although Gomes was sent off, the fact that he was dismissed for two bookings mean he will only miss one match.

Lewis-Skelly, by contrast, is currently set to miss Arsenal's home game with Manchester City, live on Zone Sporty VIP next Sunday, as well as the televised second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle and the Premier League trip to Leicester on February 15.

Zone Sporty VIP' Sam Blitz:

One - you don't see red cards for that. "He's 70 yards from his own goal," said Sherwood. That is the starting point.

PGMOL classes serious foul play as "a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality".

Cynical? Yes. But it is extremely hard to make the argument that Lewis-Skelly's challenge endangered Doherty's safety, or that he used excessive force or brutality.

More common sense was needed.

Two - VAR gave it. The serious foul play call was checked and confirmed by England. See above for the common sense point to an official who had replays, slow-mos and time to fully assess it.

Three - Joao Gomes' challenge was arguably worse. How the Wolves midfielder got a yellow for a seemingly higher, more aggressive and more dangerous challenge and Lewis-Skelly got his marching orders is simply baffling. The consistency did not even last half a match.

Four - Michael Oliver doesn't like to "impact games negatively by overreacting" apparently. That's what PGMOL chief Howard Webb said last season when Mateo Kovacic avoided a red card for Man City at Arsenal. Did he need to send Lewis-Skelly off there?

Five - More freak dismissals for Arsenal - Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both sent off for kicking the ball away - but have we seen any since? Joao Pedro's penalty at Brighton despite William Saliba seemingly getting the ball. Arsenal are getting freak decisions this season and it seems to be heavily weighted against them - so it is little wonder their fans are becoming increasingly frustrated.