Myles Lewis-Skelly sees his ban overturned by the FA after his red card against Wolves in what is a huge boost for the Gunners.
Myles Lewis-Skelly sees his three-match ban – imposed for a red card at Wolves on Saturday – has been overturned.
The Football Association said that the Gunners’ appeal against the decision to dismiss the 18-year-old was upheld by an independent regulatory commission.
“We’re very happy that decision has been made,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday night on the eve of their final Champions League group game against Girona.
“The club has put all the evidence and everything it could put together to defend our position, and it was pretty fast. It’s good to know today basically, that’s helpful.
“Now we have more options because he’s going to be available and that’s something very positive for the team.”
Referee Michael Oliver ruled Lewis-Skelly’s fouling of Matt Doherty to be significant foul play, and he was given a straight red card.
In the 43rd minute, Doherty launched a counterattack from just outside the Wolves box. At first, Darren England, the visual assistant referee (VAR), upheld the ruling.
After Joao Gomes’ second yellow card on 70 minutes, Wolves were reduced to 10 men, but Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Riccardo Calafiori in the 74th minute.
Arteta told BBC Match of the Day the decision was “so obvious that today you don’t need my words”.
“I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you,” he said to Sky Sports.
“Because it is that obvious, I don’t think my words are going to help.”
Alan Shearer, the competition’s record goalscorer, said the sending off was “one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time”.
“As a referee you can get it wrong on the pitch, you might see something which is incorrect,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Arsenal substitute Calafiori told Sky Sports that “from the bench, it was clearly not a red card”.