Arsenal supporters have been left laughing in disbelief after it emerged that 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked for ‘unsporting behaviour’ by Michael Oliver during Arsenal’s intense 2-2 draw against Manchester City – all for checking on injured goalkeeper David Raya.

The incident occurred in the 65th minute when Arsenal were leading 2-1. Lewis-Skelly, warming up behind Raya’s goal line, appeared to pass a message or check on the condition of the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Revealed: real reason Gunners sub was booked Daily Mail24 Sep 2024By JACK GAUGHAN ARSENAL have been caught up in a time-wasting storm as it emerged that teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was cautioned for unsporting behaviour after appearing to relay a message to David Raya during Sunday’s frenetic draw at Manchester City. Referee Michael Oliver booked Lewis-Skelly after the substitute trotted behind Raya’s goalline while warming up in the 65th minute as the Gunners led 2-1. Oliver is understood to have observed the 17-year-old communicating with Raya before the Arsenal goalkeeper fell to the floor, forcing the referee to stop proceedings. Lewis-Skelly had returned to the group of substitutes on the main touchline by the time he received his yellow card — handed out before he had played a single minute of professional football. Mikel Arteta used the ensuing break in play — as Raya received treatment — to deliver a team talk to nine of his outfield players as they looked to keep City at bay. Pep Guardiola’s side dramatically equalised in the 98th minute through John Stones and Arteta labelled his team’s 10-man defensive effort as a ‘miracle’. In the build-up to Lewis-Skelly’s intervention, Arsenal coaches had been motioning for calm in Raya’s direction before he geared up to take a goal-kick that was then ultimately delayed. Gary Neville said ‘there is no doubt that is a tactic’ during commentary on Sky Sports when Raya went down to receive treatment. Unlike outfield players, goalkeepers do not have to leave the field of play after treatment. The PGMOL confirmed that LewisSkelly’s caution was for ‘showing a lack of respect for the game’ under the unsporting behaviour element of the laws. Arsenal have been approached for comment. Apparent gamesmanship deployed by Arsenal was the talk of the top flight last year, with coaching staff and analysts across the division openly discussing the ‘dark arts’ among themselves. Clubs have sent concerns about the issue to the PGMOL. Alleged delaying tactics are at odds with club legend Arsene Wenger’s push to discourage time-wasting as part of his role as FIFA’s chief of global football development. Speaking last year amid a backlash against longer periods of stoppage time, Wenger claimed the new directives were to condition player behaviour. ‘For the equity of the game, we want the team who wants to play to be rewarded,’ he told the Independent. ‘For the respect of the fan who sits in the stand, (we want) teams to play, to encourage the teams not to waste time.’ Article Name:Revealed: real reason Gunners sub was booked Publication:Daily Mail Author:By JACK GAUGHAN Start Page:67 End Page:67
Revealed: real reason Gunners sub was booked –
Daily Mail 24/09/24

Moments later, Raya fell to the ground, requiring play to be stopped. While the medical staff tended to Raya, Michael Oliver, with laser-like vision that had otherwise failed him throughout the game, seemed to have read Lewis-Skelly’s lips, despite being 50 yards away, and knew what he had said to Raya,

By the time he issued the yellow card, Lewis-Skelly had returned to the group of substitutes. The teenager received the caution without having even stepped onto the pitch, with many Arsenal fans mocking the absurdity of the decision.

Did Oliver consider Lewis-Skelly might have been checking on an injury?

In the video evidence that emerged after the match, Raya could be seen limping out of the dressing room with a dressing over his knee.

It’s left many to question whether Michael Oliver even considered the possibility that Lewis-Skelly might have been genuinely sent to check on his injured teammate. Arsenal supporters pointed out that, rather than ‘unsporting behaviour,’ the young substitute was likely sent over by the bench regarding a potential injury.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed that Lewis-Skelly was booked for ‘showing a lack of respect for the game’ under the unsporting behaviour category of the laws.

This explanation was met with widespread laughter from Arsenal fans, who felt the decision was so ludicrous it was almost as if they were watching a sit-com.

Arsenal fans’ frustrations turn to amusement

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Players react as Referee, Michael Oliver shows a red card to Leandro Trossard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Players react as Referee, Michael Oliver shows a red card to Leandro Trossard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

For many Arsenal fans, this decision was just the latest in a long line of questionable calls made by Michael Oliver in matches involving their team. The fact that the teenager was booked for checking on an injured teammate only deepened their disbelief and gave them reason to laugh at what they see as another example of Oliver’s inconsistency.

Lewis-Skelly’s booking was seen as especially ridiculous when compared to similar incidents involving City players that went unpunished. As one fan remarked, “Only Michael Oliver could spot a teenager checking on an injured teammate but somehow miss Erling Haaland throwing a ball at Gabriel Magalhães.”

Haaland escapes punishment for ball-throwing incident

Erling Haaland throws the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes during Arsenal's match against Manchester City (Image via Arsenal.com)
Erling Haaland throws the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes during Arsenal’s match against Manchester City (Image via Arsenal.com)

Adding to the absurdity, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland will not face any punishment after being caught on camera throwing a ball at Gabriel Magalhães during City’s celebration of their late equaliser. The incident, unnoticed by referee Michael Oliver but checked by the VAR team, left many questioning how such blatant acts can go unpunished while a substitute checking on an injured teammate results in a yellow card.

Former referee Mark Halsey weighed in on the incident during the Whistleblower podcast, saying, “You could argue it’s violent conduct… he can count himself very lucky that [referee] Michael Oliver didn’t see that and VAR didn’t pick it up either.” They did, but yet again they ignored it.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also took to social media to express his disbelief, stating, “The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move… Throwing the ball in Gabi’s head when he’s not looking. When Gabi’s back’s turned to him. Real coward’s move.”

A pattern of bias?

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 10, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 10, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal fans have long felt that Michael Oliver’s decisions seem to lean against their club. Over 60 Arsenal games, Oliver has sent off seven Arsenal players while awarding them just five penalties. In contrast, he’s only sent off one Manchester City player in 57 matches and has awarded City 11 penalties.

This disparity has deepened the belief among Arsenal supporters that Oliver’s decisions are anything but impartial when it comes to their team. Oliver’s decision to book Lewis-Skelly, a 17-year-old simply checking on his injured teammate, combined with his leniency towards Haaland, has only solidified that belief.

We likely won’t ever know what Lewis-Skelly actually said to David Raya but one thing is absolutely certain – Michael Oliver doesn’t know, either.