Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was substituted 34 minutes into Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 first leg against PSV after narrowly escaping a second yellow card in the first half.
The 18-year-old received a yellow card in the 24th minute for pulling back Luuk De Jong and soon after tripped Richard Ledezma down the PSV right flank.
PSV players and fans called for a second booking from Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano, but the official kept his cards in his pockets and let the teenager continue.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wasn’t willing to take any risks, even before halftime. He substituted Lewis-Skelly with 34 minutes gone after Mikel Merino scored to make it 3-0 for the Gunners.
Lewis-Skelly hurried off the pitch, facing jeers from the home crowd in Eindhoven but receiving high-fives from his teammates. He was replaced by Riccardo Calafiori.
A red card would have been Lewis-Skelly’s third in just over a month, having been sent off in the Gunners’ win over Wolves on January 25, which was later rescinded, and in the loss to West Ham on February 22.
Alan Shearer, commenting for Amazon Prime, noted: “It’s a risky situation when he’s just received a yellow card. I’m pretty sure if he hadn’t had one, that would definitely be a booking.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg added: “The referee must determine if that’s a careless or reckless challenge. It isn’t a promising attack since the ball is going out of play.
“The referee judged it to be a careless challenge. He went for the ball but was late. If this happened in midfield, it likely wouldn’t be a yellow. Had he not been cautioned, as Alan said, he would have received a caution, but that doesn’t qualify as a second yellow—it doesn’t meet the criteria.”
Although his red against Wolves was overturned after an appeal, the 18-year-old was deemed to have denied a potential goal-scoring opportunity when he fouled Mohammed Kudus near the halfway line against West Ham.
The Hammers winger dispossessed Lewis-Skelly and had a clear path to goal, with David Raya far off his line.
Lewis-Skelly made a reckless lunge, initially receiving a yellow card for the foul.
However, after a brief VAR review, the teenager was sent off for the second time in Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches.
Arteta was able to substitute the star during the PSV match, with his side leading 3-0, although Noa Lang pulled one back shortly after the change. The Gunners struck early in the second half through Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard, adding two more to secure a 7-1 victory.