'The worst' - Ian Wright and Alan Shearer fuming after Arsenal blow ahead of Man City and Newcastle United

There has been widespread disbelief among pundits following a red card to Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves on Saturday. The 18-year-old was sent off by Michael Oliver for tripping Matt Doherty on the edge of the Gunners box as Wolves looked to break.

Everyone associated with Arsenal in attendance expressed their clear shock at the decision, which came just before half-time. The Gunners held on at 0-0 until the 70th minute when Joao Gomes was sent off for the hosts. Just four minutes later Riccardo Calafiori netted the only goal of the game.

Lewis-Skelly will be banned for Sunday’s visit of Manchester City and the second leg of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle United - pending any appeal against the decision. City and Arsenal played out a dramatic 2-2 draw when the sides last met as Pep Guardiola’s side netted in second-half stoppage time to rescue a point against the 10 man Gunners.

Ian Wright reacts to red card

After Lewis-Skelly’s red card, Arsenal and Crystal Palace legend Ian Wright called for referees to be brought into the Premier League from other countries as he fumed at the decision. He said: "Can I just say? It's a joke. Anyone that has ever played the game, and I'm not even talking Premier League - I'm talking five-a-side, Sunday league - knows it's never a red. Yellow card, nobody says a word.

“Time and time again, this level of refereeing, the decisions in the Premier League, the inconsistency, the excuses, the apologies - all of [the referees] just [want to be the] centre of attention, for me. We can't criticise too hard because where are the refs going to come from? Where are we going to get them? But, I'm sorry. This is the highest level of football and we do not have the highest level of referees. When will the Premier League bring the best refs into the so-called best league in the world? Because, at the moment, with this level of referees, we're nowhere near it. Nowhere near it."

Shearer and Arteta weigh on

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer expressed his surprise that VAR did not intervene with the decision. He said: “As a referee you can get it wrong on the pitch, you might see something which is incorrect. How on earth Darren England, the VAR, thinks that the referee has got that right and there is no need to send him to the screen. One of the worst decisions that I've seen in a long time. I just cannot see and work out what VAR is thinking going along with Michael Oliver's decision. No wonder it gets criticised by so many people."

He added: "It should have been a yellow card, it is a terrible decision. There was no speed, no intensity, it was not endangering an opponent and was 90 yards from goal, so never, ever a red card. What worries me is there is an assistant VAR and a VAR who have seen several replays and they think it is serious foul play."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reacted after the game: "I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you. Because it is that obvious, I don't think my words are going to help."