Key Points:

• Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off during Arsenal's 1-0 victory against Wolves for a controversial foul.
• Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his fury over the decision, which many pundits deemed incorrect.
• The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has reported that police are investigating threats against referee Michael Oliver.

The Premier League match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday witnessed a storm of controversy following the dismissal of Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly. The sending off occurred in the 43rd minute when Lewis-Skelly was penalized for a foul on Wolves' Matt Doherty during a counterattack. Referee Michael Oliver issued a straight red card, a decision later upheld by the video assistant referee (VAR), leading Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to express his profound disappointment and anger, stating he felt "absolutely fuming" about the ruling. Arteta further implied that the significance of the decision was so obvious that the club may not even need to appeal, although he left the ultimate choice to club officials.

This controversial decision drew widespread criticism from football pundits, many of whom described it as "one of the worst decisions" they had seen. Among the critics, former Premier League player Alan Shearer suggested that the foul did not warrant such a harsh punishment, as the incident took place far from goal and lacked the intensity typically associated with a sending-off offense. Even former referee Mike Dean indicated that a yellow card would have sufficed, highlighting the growing concern over officiating standards.

Amid the uproar, PGMOL issued a statement expressing its dismay over the threats aimed at Oliver and his family, characterizing them as "abhorrent." The organization stated that the police are now investigating these threats, reinforcing their commitment to protect match officials from abuse. They outlined their support for Oliver, noting that incidents of referee abuse are sadly becoming more frequent in recent times. The police have confirmed they are aware of the situation and that inquiries are underway.

Following the match, Arsenal did manage to secure a victory, with a goal from Riccardo Calafiori, but the ongoing fallout from Lewis-Skelly's red card continues to reverberate through the football community. As the club and its supporters await the outcome of potential appeals regarding the red card, the incident raises significant questions about the treatment of referees and the consistency of officiating in high-stakes matches.

For more details on this unfolding situation, refer to BBC, Reuters, AP, The Guardian, Reuters, and CNN.