Five problems with Lewis-Skelly's red card
Arsenal beat Wolves 1-0 but Myles Lewis-Skelly's first-half red card for cutting Matt Doherty dominated the headlines. Here are five issues we found regarding Michael Oliver's decision and VAR:
One: you don't see red cards for that. “He's 70 yards from his own goal,” said Tim Sherwood. That is the starting point. How can there be serious foul play on the edge of Arsenal's penalty area?
And if there is serious foul play before the contact with Lewis-Skelly, he has a split second to make that challenge. How could the 18 year old have meant that? More common sense was needed.
Two – the VAR gave it. The serious foul was checked and confirmed by VAR Darren England. See above for the common sense point from a referee who had replays, slow motions and time to fully review it.
Three, Joao Gomes' challenge was arguably worse. How the Wolves midfielder was booked for an apparently higher, more aggressive and dangerous challenge and Lewis-Skelly was given his marching orders is simply baffling. The consistency lasted less than half a game.
Four – Michael Oliver apparently doesn't like to “negatively impact games by overreacting.” That's what PGMOL chief Howard Webb said last season when Mateo Kovacic avoided a red card for Man City at Arsenal. Should he send Lewis-Skelly there?
Five – More bizarre dismissals for Arsenal – Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both sent off for kicking the ball – but have we seen any more since? Joao Pedro's penalty in Brighton despite William Saliba seemingly getting the ball. Arsenal are being given bizarre decisions this season and it seems like they are being heavily weighed against them. So it's no wonder that their fans are becoming increasingly frustrated. Sam Blitz
Alexander-Arnold sets Anfield on fire
In games where Liverpool face so many attacks and are tasked with crushing the opposition, there is no better creator in world football than Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was in his element in the 4-1 win against Ipswich, who could only admire him from time to time.
He sprays the ball around the pitch in his usual effortless style and breaks lines with some fantastic passing. There was a cross he hit on the half-volley from almost the touchline that was so close to Luis Diaz's impact. It would have been the assist of the season. This boy sees things that other players don't see.
He grabbed an assist for Cody Gakpo's goal with a sumptuous cross that teams better than Ipswich could not have defended and he also earned an own goal, but crashed one back off the crossbar. In this mood, in this practice-like game, it was a privilege to watch him. Liverpool fans should perhaps enjoy these performances while they can.Lewis Jones
Alexander the Great conquers St Mary's
There is absolutely no stopping Alexander Isak at this point. To say he is in inspired form would be an understatement, but all the praise coming his way is fully justified after Newcastle's 3-1 win over Southampton.
The best striker in the Premier League right now? He just has to be that way.
Since Newcastle's 3-3 draw against Liverpool on December 4, Eddie Howe's side have played twelve games. Isak has only drawn a blank twice. This season he has now scored 19 goals in 25 games in all competitions. Seven more and he will set a new personal best, surpassing last season's 25.
The records are starting to fall too. His double at St Mary's made him the first Newcastle player to score in five consecutive Premier League away games, overtaking Peter Beardsley's previous club record of four in December 1993.
More importantly, his new total of 48 Premier League goals is the most of any Swedish player in the competition, joint with Freddie Ljungberg, and he has also surpassed teammate Callum Wilson (47) as the outright second top player. goalscorer for Newcastle in the league, behind Alan Shearer (148).
As Newcastle pursue a return to the top four, this electric form will be imperative.Dan Long
O'Brien gives Everton another jacket for their arsenal
David Moyes has made a seamless return to the dugout at Everton, but as he celebrates his 700th game as Premier League manager with a 1-0 win over Brighton, there is one key difference in personnel.
Jake O'Brien had not yet started a league match under Sean Dyche. Supporters had rightly questioned the summer recruit over a four-year deal for £16.4 million. The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland defender has played 27 games for Lyon.
After being used by Leighton Baines in the FA Cup win over Peterborough, Moyes liked what he saw.
“I had seen the match and I thought he had done quite well,” Moyes said of that match. “He is a centre-back, but many young centre-backs make their debut as full-backs.
“For example, I was one when I was at Celtic. But if you look at a lot of centre-backs, sometimes midfield players have to play wide. So Jake may have to do that at the moment. We have two very good centre-backs.” -backs, so to get him in we tried to use him a bit as a full-back, occasionally a bit as a hybrid, and sometimes play a bit further inside. Try to get him some play time.
“He is progressing, he still has a long way to go, he still has a lot to do. I am very satisfied with the two performances. He came into the team and we won two games. Overall he loved Kaoru Mitoma generally pretty quiet.”
O'Brien met the task impressively, first with Jesper Lindstrom in front of him and then slightly more inversely when Nathan Patterson was introduced. Everton kept clean sheets away from home before Moyes' arrival, but now they have a new coat of arms in their arsenal. Ben Grounds
Iraola's magic makes Bournemouth dream of Europe
Bournemouth were stunningly excellent in their 5-0 home win over Nottingham Forest.
The quality of goals, fluid football and their defensive soundness shone in a victory that will increase belief that this fun-loving Bournemouth team can qualify for Europe.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola is the architect of it all and he will no doubt be linked to bigger jobs in the coming months thanks to the magic he is working on the south coast.
Bournemouth defeated Forest to record their biggest win in the top flight since April 2019. Iraola's seventh-placed side have now beaten four of the top seven this season, so their 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions is no coincidence.
In a chaotic Premier League season where the bigger sides have struggled, Bournemouth have taken full advantage and this stunning performance will leave them feared.
Leaders Liverpool next head to the Vitality Stadium, while Bournemouth have another impressive victory in their sights.
Beat the Reds and Bournemouth will be seen not only as European hopefuls but also as genuine Champions League contenders, especially as fifth place this season may be enough for Champions League qualification. Declan Olley
The inevitable end cannot come soon enough for Southampton
Another week, another defeat, another step closer to what seems inevitable relegation. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, this season has been as miserable as it has been for Southampton – and it's far from over.
The record for the fewest points in a single Premier League season is held by Derby, who scored just 11 in 2007/08. Equaling this or setting a new record is still very possible.
But on Saturday another record was set: Saints have now lost six home games in a row for the first time in their history. They have not tasted league victory at home since November 2, when they defeated Everton 1-0. In fact, that remains their only league win so far this season.
They have won just one of their last 36 Premier League games (D7 L28) and if we convert this to three points for an all-time win, Saints' six points are the second lowest after 23 top-flight games, behind only Bolton 1902/03 has fewer and fewer of them at this stage (3).
Ivan Juric has certainly brought more fight into this team and they fought to the end here, but without the results to match, the seemingly inevitable is approaching. Dan Long
Missed opportunity for Wolves
A strange match at Molineux. Wolves started well and looked set to frustrate Arsenal, with Pablo Sarabia even putting the hosts close to the lead after his first-half effort sailed just over the crossbar.
The momentum seemed to shift after Lewis-Skelly's red, but not in the way you might think.
Arsenal played as the team with 11 players on the pitch and even before Joao Gomes departed for his reckless tackle on Jurrien Timber, the Gunners seemed the only side capable of breaking the deadlock.
Forcing David Raya to make just one save when they had more players on the pitch is not good enough from Wolves. “We had some problems playing, but then we started playing again and breaking the first pressure,” Pereira said after the match. “Then came the second yellow card.”
Wolves showed against Manchester United that they can punish teams 11 against 10, but simply didn't have the same drive, threat or determination on this occasion.
A strong chance to secure points in the fight for survival now eludes them.Patrick Rowe
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