Calafiori edges Arsenal past Wolves after controversial red for Lewis-Skelly

Even if it seems inevitable Arsenal will dispute PGMOL’s definition of “serious foul play” in the coming days, after the referee Michael Oliver’s remarkable call to punish Myles Lewis-Skelly for a cynical trip with a red card, Mikel Arteta will take great satisfaction from this victory at Wolves. The defender’s first-half sending-off will dominate the discourse but the substitute Riccardo Calafiori’s priceless winner, after Wolves were themselves reduced to 10 men when João Gomes was given a second yellow card, ensured they stay in the hunt for the title.

The problems are piling up for Wolves, who succumbed to a fourth straight defeat in which their only bona fide striker, Jørgen Strand Larsen, limp down the tunnel. Arteta knows that feeling. The Arsenal manager has not hidden his desire to strengthen his attack but Calafiori took his goal like a seasoned striker. Nelson Semedo’s headed clearance from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross dropped for the Italy defender and, on the swivel, he sent a first-time left-foot finish into the far corner. Pablo Sarabia, substituted minutes earlier, appeared punch-drunk on the Wolves bench. The home support again voiced their anger at the Wolves chairman, Jeff Shi. “Back the team or sell the club,” was the demand from the South Bank.