Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has come out swinging against Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, accusing him of inciting a wave of corruption allegations among Gunners supporters following a controversial refereeing decision.
This came after Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves last weekend, a match that sparked drama both on and off the pitch.
While Riccardo Calafiori’s goal was enough to secure the win for Arsenal, the match was overshadowed by the incident involving 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly.
As Wolves launched a counterattack late in the first half, the young Arsenal player fouled Matt Doherty, a challenge that initially looked like a yellow card offense.
However, referee Michael Oliver handed out a straight red, a decision that was upheld by VAR official Darren England.
In the aftermath, Arteta expressed his fury over the decision, calling it “absolutely fuming.” His anger was shared by a section of Arsenal fans, some of whom even went as far as to accuse the referees of corruption, prompting police investigations into the harassment of Oliver and his family.
Neville, speaking on The Overlap, argued that Arteta’s comments only intensified the situation. He explained, “Arsenal are inflaming the situation after the game rather than calming it down. Over the last 12 months, they’ve done this, and it has only fueled a narrative of corruption.”
He pointed out that, unlike in his playing days, social media now amplifies these reactions, giving them a much wider reach.
The former England defender further criticized some Arsenal fans’ calls for Oliver to be banned from officiating their matches, calling the idea “absurd” and reaffirming his belief that Oliver is one of the best referees in the country.
Neville also noted that Arsenal supporters, under Arteta, have developed a sense of entitlement. He stated, “Arsenal fans have become entitled. Every time there’s a questionable decision, it’s treated like the end of the world. It’s almost as if the club is creating a siege mentality, similar to what Manchester United did in the past.”
He continued by describing the incident with Lewis-Skelly as a typical tactical foul, deserving of a yellow card rather than a red. “It was a cynical attempt to stop a counter-attack, something we see all the time, and it wasn’t the worst decision I’ve ever seen,” Neville said.
Despite the controversy, Arteta and his team can take comfort in the fact that Lewis-Skelly’s three-match ban was recently overturned, which means the youngster will be available for the upcoming clash against Manchester City.
As tensions continue to simmer, one thing is clear: the fallout from this incident is far from over, with both fans and pundits divided on how the situation was handled.