Myles Lewis-Skelly was at the center of controversy once again as the Arsenal youngster received a red card in his side’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on February 22, 2025. The 18-year-old defender was initially shown a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson for a foul on Mohammed Kudus, but following a VAR review, the decision was upgraded to a straight red.
The incident occurred in the 73rd minute when Lewis-Skelly lost possession near the halfway line as Arsenal pushed for an equalizer. With goalkeeper David Raya out of position and no covering defenders in place, officials deemed the foul to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The decision left Arsenal down to ten men for the remainder of the match.
This marks the second controversial red card for Lewis-Skelly in recent weeks. In a Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 25, he was sent off for a challenge on Matt Doherty. Arsenal later appealed, and an independent Regulatory Commission overturned the red card, rescinding his three-match suspension.
Despite dominating possession and registering 20 shots, Arsenal struggled to break through West Ham’s defense, managing only two shots on target. The visitors capitalized on their opportunities, with Jarrod Bowen scoring the decisive goal in the 44th minute. The result handed Arsenal their first home league defeat of the season, dealing a blow to their Premier League title hopes.
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta voiced his frustration, admitting that his team fell short of the required level. “We have to look at ourselves, accept responsibility, and find solutions,” Arteta said.
Lewis-Skelly’s red card has once again sparked debate over VAR’s consistency in the Premier League. With Arsenal now preparing to face Nottingham Forest, they will do so without the young defender, who will serve a suspension following his dismissal.
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