Arsenal recover after controversial red card
Wolves 0 - 1 Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori’s strike secured a crucial Premier League win for 10-man Arsenal against Wolves, despite the drama surrounding Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial red card.
Referee Michael Oliver stunned the Gunners in the first half by sending off 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly for a foul on Matt Doherty. The incident occurred 30 yards from Wolves’ goal as Doherty looked to break from an Arsenal corner.
At just 18 years and 121 days old, Lewis-Skelly became the third-youngest player to be shown a red card in Premier League history, behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
Wolves midfielder João Gomes also saw red in the second half for a second bookable offence after fouling Jurrien Timber. However, his dismissal will likely be little more than a footnote in the story of the match.
Lewis-Skelly’s sending-off could have dealt a significant blow to Arsenal's title hopes. A slip-up here would have allowed Liverpool to extend their lead at the top of the table after their 4-1 win over Ipswich.
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However, the Gunners showed their mettle, with Calafiori stepping up as the hero. Introduced at half-time as part of a tactical reshuffle, the substitute fired home a superb low finish with 16 minutes remaining, ensuring Arsenal stayed six points behind Liverpool.
Before Lewis-Skelly’s red card in the 43rd minute, the match had offered little in the way of excitement, aside from Wolves fans voicing their frustrations with owners Fosun. The chants of "back the team or sell the club" echoed around the stadium as their side languished in 17th place.
Wolves had their chances, with Pablo Sarabia volleying over and Matheus Cunha threatening after the break. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz came close on several occasions, nodding wide and forcing a save from José Sá.
Ultimately, it was Calafiori’s decisive strike that settled the game, capping a resilient performance from the Gunners in challenging circumstances.
Arsenal show grit and determination
Given everything Arsenal have had to contend with this season, this felt like yet another moment where external pressures might derail their campaign. But instead, the Gunners produced a resilient and determined response.
Already missing captain Martin Ødegaard, who was taken ill on matchday, Mikel Arteta made a bold move at half-time. He replaced teenager Ethan Nwaneri with Riccardo Calafiori, slotting him in at left-back to stabilise the side.
Playing with 10 men has been a struggle for Arsenal in the past, but this time they rose to the challenge. They started the second half strongly, working tirelessly to ensure their numerical disadvantage wasn’t noticeable. It was only when Wolves began spreading the play wide that the extra workload started to show, forcing the Gunners to dig even deeper to close down the spaces.
Kai Havertz came close on several occasions, particularly with two first-half headers – one just wide, the other well saved by José Sá. Early in the second half, he had another chance, but his effort was glanced by Jurrien Timber just before it reached him, disrupting what looked like a certain goal.
At the other end, David Raya produced a brilliant save to deny Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian firing wide from the subsequent corner. Later, another Wolves counter forced Raya into action again, but their attacking moments were limited as Arsenal maintained control.
It was a performance that showcased Arsenal’s grit and determination, a timely reminder of the character that could prove vital in the title race.
