Michael Oliver: You Are Not Fit To Referee

Despite being on the end of yet another diabolical refereeing decision, we ground out a crucial win in the Midlands.  

Here are three things that stood out for me, writes Ian Mills. 

You are not fit to referee –

Michael Oliver’s decision to brandish a red card for Myles Lewis Skelly’s first half trip on Matt Doherty was unbelievable, and as bad as that on field decision was, for Darren England in VAR to review and uphold was scandalous.

It was a yellow card, it was not a violent challenge, it was a long way from our goal and there were several covering players.

I just fail to understand how the PGMOL can justify that decision stating that it was ‘serious foul play’.

Should Arsenal appeal, which we surely will, the red card should be overturned. And yet, given the litany of refereeing errors we have already experienced during this season let alone the numerous ones we have suffered over recent years you get the feeling that the red card would be upheld as if almost to spite us.

It has been mooted several times this campaign that we are refereed differently and the more you see the decisions we receive and how other teams are given different decisions, it is hard to argue against this.

To compound matters, Joao Gomes was shown a second yellow card for a horrendous studs up challenge on Jurrien Timber. That foul was a blatant red card offence.  

For Oliver himself, he has plenty of previous from failing to send off Kovacic when we played Manchester City at home thereby allowing Guardiola to substitute him after he had committed three fouls worthy of a yellow card, to sending Martinelli off for two bookable offences (in the same period of play) also against Wolves.

Of course, he also dismissed Trossard for kicking the ball away in the early fixture away to City in September.

I am by no means the first Gooner to say this however you will not see another non Arsenal player sent off  as Martinelli was or for delaying a restart like Trossard and Rice, you will not see VAR rule out a clear goal like the one by Jesus in the final moments of the Liverpool game, you will not see another penalty given for a clash of heads like the way Saliba was penalised at Brighton and now you can add Lewis Skelly’s dismissal to that list.

Raya saves the day –

This was a game where we had to grind out a result, particularly as Liverpool were on their way to an expected comfortable home win over Ipswich.

David Raya was called upon twice in the second half to make smart saves from first one of our rumoured transfer targets in Matheus Cunha and the second from Alt-Nouri.

He commanded his area well and with William Sailba also back in the defence, we looked a lot more solid as a unit.

While Liverpool’s goal difference further improved on Saturday, who knows just how important these three points will be come the end of the season.

Will we add to the attack –

While rumours persist over potential acquisitions during this transfer window, this was another game which highlighted our severe lack of attacking personnel.

With both Martin Odegaard (illness) and Mikel Merino (injury) absent our bench contained two goalkeepers, four left-backs, a rookie striker and the disappointing Raheem Sterling, who again failed to enter the field of play, as Arteta demonstrated once again that he simply does not trust him.