Arsenal legend Ian Wright has slammed the 'incompetency' of Premier League referees after Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial red card against Wolves.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Wright slams 'incompetency' of EPL refereesLewis-Skelly received controversial red on SaturdayArsenal icon hints officials should be hired from abroadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Wright was reacting to the controversial red card awarded to Myles Lewis-Skelly by Michael Oliver in the first half of Arsenal's clash with Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, when a foul on Matt Doherty was deemed "serious foul play" and not reviewed by VAR. The Gunners went on to win the game 1-0 but the decision has still prompted outrage from players, staff and fans.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Arsenal feel they have been hard done by in terms of refereeing decisions this season. Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both sent off after receiving second yellow cards for kicking the ball away earlier on in the campaign, costing their side potential victories against Brighton and Manchester City. They currently sit six points behind league leaders Liverpool, with their rivals also having a game in hand.
WHAT WRIGHT SAID
Commenting on the decision, Wright said on Instagram: "It's a joke. Anyone that has ever played the game knows it's never a red. Yellow card, nobody says a word. Time and time again, this level of refereeing in the Premier League – the inconsistency, the excuses, the apologies – they just want to be the centre of attention, for me." Wright added in the caption: "They are going to try and find all sorts of angles and slow mo's to try and justify the incompetency and inconsistency of PGMOL."
The former Arsenal striker also suggested the Premier League should bring in foreign referees to improve the falling officiating standards. "We can't criticise too hard because where are the refs going to come from? Where are we going to get them? But, I'm sorry. This is the highest level of football and we do not have the highest level of referees," he said. "When will the Premier League bring the best refs into the so-called best league in the world. Because, at the moment, with this level of referees, we're nowhere near it. Nowhere near it."
WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Arsenal face a crucial period of their season in the coming weeks, beginning with the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League next Sunday. They then travel to Newcastle for the second leg of their Carabao Cup tie with Newcastle, which they trail 2-0 on aggregate, and also face third-place Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before the end of February.
