BREAKING NEWS : Howard Webb told to drop Michael Oliver over Arsenal red card and ‘major error’

Howard Webb told to drop Michael Oliver over Arsenal red card and ‘major error’

Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off by referee Michael Oliver against Wolves and the decision has been heavily criticised, with calls for PGMOL to take action

Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal appeals to referee Michael Oliver after being shown a red card against Wolverhampton Wanderers(Image: Getty Images)

Keith Hackett has urged Howard Webb to give Michael Oliver a break after branding him sending off Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly a “major error”.

Mikel Arteta’s side were reduced to 10-men during their 1-0 victory at Molineux on Saturday, when Lewis-Skelly fouled Matt Doherty near the edge of the over Wolverhampton Wanderers box as the home side launched a counter-attack.

The former Premier League referees’ chief told talkSPORT: “I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks. That’s the first

Hackett was scathing about Oliver’s decision to show a red card, which was not overturned by VAR Darren England. Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer called it one of the “worst decisions he has seen in a long time”.

Hackett added: “Ultimately, the referee takes responsibility. I admit, and I’m very clear, that VAR did not do what VAR should do. This was a clear and obvious error. It wasn’t serious foul play.”

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Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly fouls Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matt Doherty leading to a a red card

Hackett believes Oliver acted too hastily, saying: “It was instant. It was too instant. He needed to have a thought process that runs through and visualise that incident, give himself time, milliseconds, before he makes this major error.”

Arsenal are now set to appeal the decision, which could see Lewis-Skelly’s three-match ban overturned. Hackett said: “More than that, you need to take these guys out of the oven, no matter what level they’re at, and give them the appropriate operational advice. Talk through that incident, give them time to think through it, and then determine how they could make an error in law,” reports the Mirror.