Martin Keown, an Arsenal veteran, has slammed referee Michael Oliver for sending off Gabriel Martinelli against Wolves for two fouls in the same passage of play.
Oliver’s choice was regarded by Keown as “pedantic.”
Martinelli pulled Chiquinho over in the space of five seconds, attempting to prevent Wolves from getting a quick throw in.
The Brazilian attacker appeared to expect to be cautioned, but was taken aback when Oliver issued him two yellow and then a red card.
“I felt it was quite rough on the player, they are going to be without him for a really important game,” Keown remarked after the game on BT Sport.
“They saw it through and it didn’t matter in the end, but I thought the referee was being very pedantic.”
“Maybe we’re gonna see this up and down the country. Maybe it’s a new directive. It nearly spoilt it from an Arsenal point of view but in the end it didn’t matter. A good three points for Arsenal.”
