Keith Hackett Gives His Opinion on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Dismissal in Arsenal’s 1-0 Defeat to West Ham

Former English referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has asserted that Craig Pawson erred in dismissing Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly during their clash with West Ham. The Gunners missed an opportunity to put pressure on league leaders Liverpool, as the teenager received his second red card of the season.

Lewis-Skelly’s first sending-off earlier in the campaign, during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves, sparked controversy after Michael Oliver’s decision was later overturned. However, this latest incident appears less likely to be reversed.

VAR Audio Sheds Light on Michael Oliver’s Decision Before Lewis-Skelly’s Red Card

Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to break down a resolute West Ham defense at the Emirates, with Jarrod Bowen’s first-half header securing a surprise lead for the visitors. The situation worsened in the 73rd minute when the young Arsenal defender was sent off for bringing down Mohammed Kudus, further complicating their chances of a comeback.

Former PGMOL Chief Weighs in on Referee’s Error

Lewis-Skelly was initially shown a yellow card before VAR intervened.

With David Raya out of position and no Arsenal defender in place to provide cover, Kudus was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. However, Pawson initially opted for a yellow card before being advised by VAR to review the incident.

Hackett criticized Pawson’s initial decision, expressing disbelief that he did not immediately recognize the foul as a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO). While Pawson ultimately upgraded the yellow to a red after reviewing the footage, Hackett labeled the initial call a “massive error.”

Speaking to Football Insider post-match, Hackett stated:

“This is another huge mistake. Craig Pawson failed to issue a red card for a clear denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Thankfully, VAR stepped in, and the correct decision was made.

“How did the referee not recognize that the offence met the DOGSO criteria? VAR should not have needed to intervene.”

Supporting Hackett’s assessment, the Premier League released a statement clarifying the decision:

“VAR reviewed the referee’s initial yellow card for Lewis-Skelly’s challenge on Kudus. Given the goalkeeper’s position and lack of a covering defender, the incident was deemed a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, leading to a recommendation for an on-field review. The referee subsequently upgraded the yellow to a red card.”