New footage has emerged that appears to show why Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked during Sunday’s entertaining Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 17-year-old picked up a yellow card before making his Premier League debut, with the PGMOL later confirming that his caution was for showing ‘a lack of respect for the game’ under the unsporting behaviour element of the laws.
So what did he do? A report from The Mail suggests Lewis-Skelly appeared to relay a message to goalkeeper David Raya as Arsenal tried to hold on to their 2-1 lead.
Footage obtained by the publication appears to show the teenager warming up on the touchline before walking behind Raya’s goalline. The goalkeeper then fell to the ground and stopped proceedings.
Arsenal coaches made a gesture towards Raya before taking the goal kick, something that was described by Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville as a tactic as the Spaniard went down to receive treatment.
Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, returned to the main touchline with several of his Arsenal teammates.
But moments later, referee Michael Oliver brandished a yellow card, meaning the youngster made history by becoming the first player to get carded before making their Premier League debut.
During the break, Mikel Arteta could be seen delivering instructions to his team as they attempted to defend the narrowest of leads.
Image credit: The Mail
Image credit: The Mail
However, in the dying embers of Sunday’s game, Manchester City defender John Stones equalised in the 98th minute to seal what could end up being a crucial point in the title race.
“He [Pep Guardiola] wanted me to play closer to Erling [Haaland], higher up the pitch, to get more crosses in and hopefully try and win a few aerial duels,” Stones told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle.
“He’s so interchangeable, everyone plays in pockets, so fluid in movements and recognising if someone isn’t their position to occupy it.
“But I tried to go on and get in the right areas, and it fell for me luckily, and I’m really pleased to score a goal like that.”
The match had a number of controversial moments, including Leandro Trossard’s second yellow card for kicking the ball away shortly after half-time.
City players, meanwhile, were incensed with referee Oliver over his decision to allow Arsenal to take a quick free kick, which lead to their equaliser at 1-1.
Image credit: Getty
Speaking after the game, Bernardo Silva criticised Arsenal for their tactics.
He said: “There was only one team that came to play football. The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately.
“It all started in the very first second. In the first action [Havertz foul on Rodri], we realised what was going to happen.
“We had a player injured after they sent him to the ground twice in 10 minutes.
“The second goal is already their usual block to our keeper allowed by the referee. And then the referee allowed a sequence of time wasting events. They [the FA] say a lot [about change] but nothing ever happens.”