Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly’s three-match ban – imposed for a red card at Wolves on Saturday – has been overturned.
The Gunners appealed against the decision to send off the 18-year-old and an independent regulatory commission upheld their claim of wrongful dismissal, the Football Association confirmed.
“We’re very happy that decision has been made,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday night on the eve of their final Champions League group game against Girona.
“The club has put all the evidence and everything it could put together to defend our position, and it was pretty fast. It’s good to know today basically, that’s helpful.
“Now we have more options because he’s going to be available and that’s something very positive for the team.”
Lewis-Skelly was shown a straight red card after fouling Matt Doherty, with referee Michael Oliver deeming it serious foul play.
Doherty was just outside the Wolves box as he mounted a counter-attack in the 43rd minute. The decision was initially upheld by Darren England, who was the video assistant referee (VAR).
Wolves later went down to 10 men after Joao Gomes’ second yellow on 70 minutes, before Riccardo Calafiori’s 74th-minute strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 win.
Immediately after Saturday’s game, Arteta told BBC Match of the Day the decision was “so obvious that today you don’t need my words”.
“I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you,” he said to Sky Sports.
“Because it is that obvious, I don’t think my words are going to help.”
Police have since been investigating “threats and abuse” directed at referee Oliver, said referees’ body PGMOL.
Lewis-Skelly caught Doherty’s shin and then foot, and Oliver quickly showed a red card, with VAR deciding against sending the referee to the pitchside monitor.
On the Premier League’s website it says high, full and forceful contact on the ankle or above is “considered dangerous” and a “red card”.
Alan Shearer, the competition’s record goalscorer, said the sending off was “one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time”.
“As a referee you can get it wrong on the pitch, you might see something which is incorrect,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Arsenal substitute Calafiori told Sky Sports that “from the bench, it was clearly not a red card”.
Speaking at a news conference just after the commission’s decision was announced, Arteta said: “[I’m] obviously really happy that the decision has been made and Myles is going to be available for us.”
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