The Premier League have issued a statement to explain why Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for Arsenal after committing a foul in the middle of the pitch.
Trailing 1-0 already after Jarrod Bowen’s first-half opener, the Gunners have endured a difficult afternoon against West Ham and may lose further ground in the title race with Liverpool.
A yellow card was initially issued to Lewis-Skelly for a foul on Mohammed Kudus, after the Ghanaian had won the ball back and launched a counter, but on VAR’s recommendation the card was upgraded to red.
Having outmuscled Lewis-Skelly on the half-way line, Kudus was bundled to the floor, but was deemed to have been in a goalscoring position – resulting in the dismissal.
The Match Centre’s statement reads: “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.”
The 18-year-old had only entered the pitch as a second-half substitute, on a miserable day for Mikel Arteta’s side who struggled once again without a recognised number nine.
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