Featured Image Credit: Reddit
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Mikel Arteta, VAR, Football, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Michael Oliver
Ben McCrum
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Mikel Arteta, VAR, Football, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Michael Oliver
New footage of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking with referee Michael Oliver following his controversial decision in the match against Wolves has been revealed.
On Saturday, Arsenal continued to put pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool after claiming a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium.
Although it was Riccardo Calafiori's late winner that sealed the three points for the Gunners, the talking point of the match came much earlier when young defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially shown a red card shortly before half-time.
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But now new footage after the match of Arsenal boss Arteta speaking with match referee Oliver, and it has got fans talking online.
In the 43rd minute of the match on Saturday, Lewis-Skelly was sent off after a last-ditch challenge on Matt Doherty which was deemed serious foul play, even though the Wolves defender was barely out of his own penalty area.
Arsenal fans and players were clearly infuriated by the decision, but a clip on reddit shows that Arteta still respected the matchday officials Immediately after the match as he took the time to shake hands with them all.
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However, one eagle-eyed fan noticed that Oliver appeared to say something to the Spaniard as they shook hands, and it's got Arsenal fans talking.
Posting the clip on reddit, one fan wrote: "Oliver clearly says something to make Arteta stop and look back. I wonder what."
Another agreed, replying: "I noticed this also. shame its not like the rice incident when he was at west ham in Europe as we will never know what was said."
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While one noted: "If looks could talk! Hate isn't a strong enough word for Oliver. Mikel has shown incredible restraint over the last year, he knows the cost of his absence on the touchline. Respect to that man."
The reaction to the red card online led to the Premier League Match Centre releasing a statement shortly after the incident, clarifying why Oliver had sent the defender off.
It read: "The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play."