Arsenal sub booked for checking on injured David Raya

Arsenal supporters have been left laughing in disbelief after it emerged that 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked for ‘unsporting behaviour’ by Michael Oliver during Arsenal’s intense 2-2 draw against Manchester City – all for checking on injured goalkeeper David Raya.

The incident occurred in the 65th minute when Arsenal were leading 2-1. Lewis-Skelly, warming up behind Raya’s goal line, appeared to pass a message or check on the condition of the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Moments later, Raya fell to the ground, requiring play to be stopped. While the medical staff tended to Raya, Michael Oliver, with laser-like vision that had otherwise failed him throughout the game, seemed to have read Lewis-Skelly’s lips, despite being 50 yards away, and knew what he had said to Raya,

By the time he issued the yellow card, Lewis-Skelly had returned to the group of substitutes. The teenager received the caution without having even stepped onto the pitch, with many Arsenal fans mocking the absurdity of the decision.

Did Oliver consider Lewis-Skelly might have been checking on an injury?

In the video evidence that emerged after the match, Raya could be seen limping out of the dressing room with a dressing over his knee.

It’s left many to question whether Michael Oliver even considered the possibility that Lewis-Skelly might have been genuinely sent to check on his injured teammate. Arsenal supporters pointed out that, rather than ‘unsporting behaviour,’ the young substitute was likely sent over by the bench regarding a potential injury.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed that Lewis-Skelly was booked for ‘showing a lack of respect for the game’ under the unsporting behaviour category of the laws.

This explanation was met with widespread laughter from Arsenal fans, who felt the decision was so ludicrous it was almost as if they were watching a sit-com.

Arsenal fans’ frustrations turn to amusement

For many Arsenal fans, this decision was just the latest in a long line of questionable calls made by Michael Oliver in matches involving their team. The fact that the teenager was booked for checking on an injured teammate only deepened their disbelief and gave them reason to laugh at what they see as another example of Oliver’s inconsistency.

Lewis-Skelly’s booking was seen as especially ridiculous when compared to similar incidents involving City players that went unpunished. As one fan remarked, “Only Michael Oliver could spot a teenager checking on an injured teammate but somehow miss Erling Haaland throwing a ball at Gabriel Magalhães.”

Haaland escapes punishment for ball-throwing incident

Adding to the absurdity, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland will not face any punishment after being caught on camera throwing a ball at Gabriel Magalhães during City’s celebration of their late equaliser. The incident, unnoticed by referee Michael Oliver but checked by the VAR team, left many questioning how such blatant acts can go unpunished while a substitute checking on an injured teammate results in a yellow card.

Former referee Mark Halsey weighed in on the incident during the Whistleblower podcast, saying, “You could argue it’s violent conduct… he can count himself very lucky that [referee] Michael Oliver didn’t see that and VAR didn’t pick it up either.” They did, but yet again they ignored it.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also took to social media to express his disbelief, stating, “The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move… Throwing the ball in Gabi’s head when he’s not looking. When Gabi’s back’s turned to him. Real coward’s move.”

A pattern of bias?

Arsenal fans have long felt that Michael Oliver’s decisions seem to lean against their club. Over 60 Arsenal games, Oliver has sent off seven Arsenal players while awarding them just five penalties. In contrast, he’s only sent off one Manchester City player in 57 matches and has awarded City 11 penalties.

This disparity has deepened the belief among Arsenal supporters that Oliver’s decisions are anything but impartial when it comes to their team. Oliver’s decision to book Lewis-Skelly, a 17-year-old simply checking on his injured teammate, combined with his leniency towards Haaland, has only solidified that belief.

We likely won’t ever know what Lewis-Skelly actually said to David Raya but one thing is absolutely certain – Michael Oliver doesn’t know, either.