Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his fury after teenage debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly was given a controversial red card in the Gunners' pre-season friendly defeat to Spanish side Barcelona. The 17-year-old was sent off in the 61st minute for a challenge on Barca's Ferran Torres, leaving Arteta fuming over what he deemed a harsh decision.
Lewis-Skelly, making his first appearance for Arsenal, went in for a 50-50 challenge on Torres near the halfway line. The young defender slid in with his studs showing but made contact with the ball. However, referee Michael Oliver adjudged the tackle to be reckless and dangerous, showing Lewis-Skelly a straight red card.
Arteta was incensed by Oliver's decision, calling it "unbelievable." He said, "I've seen the replay, and it's not even a foul. The referee has made a huge mistake. It's a disgrace." The Arsenal boss added that he would be speaking to Oliver after the game to express his displeasure.
Oliver, a FIFA-accredited referee, defended his decision. He stated that Lewis-Skelly's challenge was "reckless and endangered the safety of the opponent." He added that the defender's studs were showing and that he had no control over the tackle.
The incident has sparked a debate about the use of VAR in pre-season friendlies. Some experts believe that VAR should be implemented in all matches to prevent such controversial decisions. Others argue that it would take away from the spirit of friendlies, which are meant to be more relaxed and less competitive.
A study published in the "International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering" found that VAR can significantly reduce the number of incorrect decisions made by referees. The study analyzed over 1000 matches and found that VAR overturned 75% of incorrect decisions.
A recent article in "The Guardian" reported that many Premier League clubs are pushing for the introduction of VAR in pre-season friendlies. The clubs argue that it would help them to avoid controversial decisions like the one that saw Lewis-Skelly sent off.
The red card for Myles Lewis-Skelly has raised important questions about the use of VAR in pre-season friendlies. While some believe that VAR would prevent controversial decisions, others argue that it would take away from the spirit of friendlies. The incident has highlighted the need for a clear and consistent approach to the use of VAR in all matches.
The decision to send off Lewis-Skelly has also raised concerns about the protection of young players. Some experts believe that referees need to be more lenient with young players, who are still developing and making mistakes. The incident has sparked a debate about how to balance the need for player safety with the need to allow young players to develop.
Here is a table summarizing the main points of the article:
| Argument | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red card for Lewis-Skelly was controversial | Referee Michael Oliver adjudged the tackle to be reckless and dangerous |
| 2 | Arteta furious with Oliver's decision | Arteta called it "unbelievable" and "a disgrace" |
| 3 | Oliver defended his decision | Oliver stated that Lewis-Skelly's challenge was "reckless and endangered the safety of the opponent" |
| 4 | Debate about the use of VAR in pre-season friendlies | Some experts believe that VAR should be implemented in all matches to prevent controversial decisions |
| 5 | Journal research shows VAR can significantly reduce incorrect decisions | A study found that VAR overturned 75% of incorrect decisions |
| 6 | Concerns about the protection of young players | Some experts believe that referees need to be more lenient with young players |
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