Arsenal win appeal over controversial Lewis-Skelly red card

LONDON: Arsenal have successfully appealed against the red card shown to Myles Lewis-Skelly in Saturday´s 1-0 win at Wolves, meaning the 18-year-old escapes a three-match ban.

The left-back was sent off in the first half at Molineux for tripping Matt Doherty as Wolves broke clear from an Arsenal corner. Referee Michael Oliver was not asked to review the incident by the VAR much to the dismay of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Former England captain Alan Shearer was one of a number of outspoken critics of the call, describing it as “one of the worst decisions that I´ve seen in a long time”. The Football Association said in a statement: “An independent regulatory commission has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Myles

Lewis-Skelly and removed his three-match suspension.” Lewis-Skelly, who has impressed in his breakthrough season with the Gunners´ first team, is now free to face Manchester City and Leicester in the Premier League, either side of the second leg of Arsenal´s League Cup semi-final against Newcastle.

Despite playing for nearly half an hour a man down before Wolves´ Joao Gomes was also sent off, Arsenal struck late through Riccardo Calafiori to remain six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.