Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori earns crucial win after both sides shown red card | OneFootball

Arsenal overcame controversial red card decision to earn hard-fought win

Riccardo Calafiori scored a brilliant winner for Arsenal to give them a 1-0 victory over Wolves, after both sides had been reduced to ten men.

The Gunners were shown their fourth Premier League red card of the season when Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed in controversial fashion before half-time.

Within five minutes, Arsenal were in front. Calafiori was brought on at half-time and he had the decisive impact, finishing superbly on the half-volley as the ball dropped to him in the box, and that proved to be enough for a crucial three points.

With Liverpool beating Ipswich at Anfield, Arsenal’s victory was needed just to keep them within six points of the league leaders, having played a game more.

Pereira's side started brightly and could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Nelson Semedo made a 70-yard run down the right and picked out the unmarked Pablo Sarabia perfectly, but the Spaniard hit his first-time volley over the crossbar.

The Gunners settled and had their first big chance shortly after. Leandro Trossard's cross was perfect for Kai Havertz, but his glancing header went just wide of the post.

The same pair combined five minutes later and it should have resulted in the opening goal. Declan Rice set the Belgian away down the left and his delivery was begging to be put away by Havertz, but he was denied by Jose Sa's legs.

Arsenal continued to press but had the rug pulled from under their feet with the game's huge moment of controversy in the 43rd minute.

Doherty broke up an Arsenal attack and looked to start a counter before being chopped down by Lewis-Skelly in his own half. Oliver immediately brandished a red card, much to the dismay of the entire Gunners team who surrounded the referee, but replays showed Lewis-Skelly's studs were high and VAR did not intervene.

Driven on by their sense of injustice, the Gunners were the stronger side, even with 10 men.

Sa was forced into another big save in the 54th minute as Rice drove into the area and fizzed in a shot that needed tipping over. After Havertz then flashed another header inches over the crossbar, Wolves came to life and Matheus Cunha had two big chances for the hosts.

First, his deflected shot from the edge of the box was looping towards the corner until David Raya scrambled across and clawed it away. And the resulting corner fell for the Brazilian at the far post, but he put his shot agonisingly wide.

The numbers were evened up in the 70th minute as Wolves were reduced to 10 men and they could have no complaints as Gomes picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jurrien Timber.

And four minutes later the inevitable happened as the Gunners took the lead. A loose ball fell to Calafiori at the back post and he steered across goal into the far corner.

Wolves could have equalised in the final 10 minutes put Raya did well to palm away Rayan Ait-Nouri's shot after he had been played in.