Arsenal charged after Myles Lewis-Skelly red card incident vs Wolves

Arsenal have been charged by the FA after players surrounded match referee Michael Oliver following Saturday's Premier League win over Wolves at Molineux. The incident came after defender Myles Lewis-Skelly had been sent off just before half-time.

The red card, which Oliver issued after not being advised to review his decision on the pitchside monitor by his VAR assists at Stockley Park, was overturned earlier this week. An FA statement writes: "The club allegedly failed to ensure that its players did not behave in an improper manner around the 43rd minute. Arsenal FC has until Monday, 3 February, provide a response."

If found guilty, Arsenal will be fined by the FA for failing to control their players. It saw multiple red shirts approach Oliver to complain after he dismissed Lewis-Skelly.

Fortunately for Mikel Arteta, his side went on to win the game 1-0 after a late Riccardo Calafiori goal. Wolves also had a man sent off. After a series of controversial moments for Oliver in Arsenal matches, the reaction has been general uproar.

The decision of Oliver to not only show Lewis-Skelly a straight red but also for the VAR officials, Darren England and Adrian Holmes, to fail to intervene, angered many, including Arteta and his players. It was initially explained that Lewis-Skelly was seen to have acted with violent conduct.

However, after Arsenal appealed the decision, Lewis-Skelly's three-match ban has been overturned. The written reasons from a panel say that Oliver made an obvious error and that there was a consensus between the panel.

Lewis-Skelly "had stepped across his opponent and tripped him up, possibly deliberately, but in doing so he had obviously not endangered the safety of his opponent or used excessive force or brutality, nor had he ‘lunged’ in at his opponent," it is explained. Areta has condemned the treatment of Oliver from supporters, though.

"We have to really work harder to try to eradicate that part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, bad taste and it makes people's lives more difficult," he said prior to Wednesday night's match against Girona. "Let's get it out, let's kick it out."

Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.