Arsenal to use Bruno Fernandes precedent as they attempt to overturn Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card against Wolves

Arsenal are expected to use footage of Bruno Fernandes‘ overturned red card earlier this season as part of any appeal against Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial sending off against Wolves.

Gunners teenager Lewis-Skelly was given a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver on Saturday for fouling Matt Doherty deep inside Wolves’ half.

Match VAR Darren English upheld his colleague’s on-field decision, confirming the challenge was an act of serious foul play.

Nevertheless, the call has been deeply criticised over the previous 48 hours.

The deadline for Arsenal to issue a notice of appeal was at lunchtime on Monday with the club having until 1pm on Tuesday to make their full submission, including all supplementary evidence, with the Football Association.

And Mail Sport understands that a clip of a similar incident that saw Manchester United skipper Fernandes shown a straight red card in his team’s home clash versus Tottenham is set to be a key part of their appeal package.

Man United captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a challenge on Tottenham’s James Maddison in September but the FA rescinded the red card just two days later

As it stands, Lewis-Skelly will miss three games for Arsenal and will not return until February 15

Referee Michael Oliver has received plenty of criticism for Saturday’s decision at Wolves

Micah Richards is the latest big name to insist that Lewis-Skelly should not have seen red

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (right) will be desperate to have Lewis-Skelly, who has become a key part of his first team, available as he pushes hard to maintain a Premier League title challenge

Fernandes was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh in the 42nd minute of the clash at Old Trafford on September 29 for a tackle on James Maddison.

At the time, Fernandes said: ‘Never a red card – that is my view. I agree that it is a foul.

‘The referee tried to tell me that as he saw it was a clear contact with the studs. No. I didn’t touch him with the studs or even the foot, it was my ankle. It is a clear foul.

‘If he wants to give me a yellow because they are going to go on a counter then I agree. But more than that, no. It is not the case.’

And the FA rescinded the red card just two days later as United successful appealed meaning Fernandes avoided a suspension.

Arsenal chiefs believe the flashpoint provides a clear precedent that will aid Lewis-Skelly’s case.

Slowed-down images appear to show Lewis-Skelly, who is currently due to miss Arsenal’s Premier League games versus Manchester City and Leicester and their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle, catching Doherty above the ankle with his studs – but the consensus across English football is that Oliver’s decision was incorrect.

Prominent pundit Micah Richards joined the condemnation of the red card on Sunday, telling the Rest is Football podcast: ‘That’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen in Premier League football history.

‘And I stick by it. This happens week in, week out. How on earth can they go to VAR, go to the screen, look at it multiple times, multiple different angles, and they still think that’s a red card?

‘I don’t like using the word “disgrace”, but if you look at the magnitude of that decision, it was so poor and for them to double down on the decision – I just think it’s shocking.’