Arsenal fans sent 'vendetta' referees message after successful red card appeal

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has weighed in on some of the controversial decisions in Arsenal games this season, including the red card shown to Myles Lewis-Skelly last weekend.

The youngster was sent off for committing a cynical tackle against Wolves, preventing a counter-attack. Michael Oliver quickly brandished a red card and VAR did not move to overrule the decision. Despite that, the red card has since been overturned on appeal, meaning Lewis-Skelly will be available this weekend.

It’s not the first controversial red card involving an Arsenal player this season, and with the help of Gambling Zone, we spoke to former striker Sutton to find out what he thought of the red card and some of those other controversial decisions. “I think Declan Rice, whether he liked it or not, to the letter of the law, he did flick the ball away,” Sutton responded. “I'm not saying he booted it 50 yards. And Arsenal fans are quite right actually to question or to call out the lack of consistency, because in that game Joao Pedro kicked a ball away, and nothing was done then. I do have some sympathy.

“Trossard, I actually thought he deserved to go (against Man City). I thought that was ill discipline on his part. With the one at the weekend, Myles Lewis-Skelly, absolutely, I think Arsenal fans are quite right to be upset about that, but I don't think there's a vendetta against Arsenal. I really don't.

“I don't think it's something that Michael Oliver or other referees think about when they stand in the tunnel: ‘I’m going to do Arsenal in today.’ I also think there’s a bit of angst at Arsenal because Liverpool are clear at the top, and they probably thought this season was about taking the next step, and Manchester City had fallen away. All of a sudden, Slot at Liverpool has slotted in well.”

Speaking about Arsenal’s current position, with Mikel Arteta’s men currently six points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more, Sutton added: “To be fair to Arsenal, they're hanging on in there.

“I know it was Wolves and there were wild celebrations at the weekend, at the end of the game, but they're showing resilience and that's a really big thing. You just don't know. Will Liverpool have a big drop-off? I think we all doubt it. Maybe, you know, they'll suffer from the number of games as a lot of other Premier League sides have done.”

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