Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori gives 10-men Gunners dramatic victory after Myles Lewis-Skelly is controversially sent off

It is hard to know where to start, really. The real take away from this remarkable afternoon at Molineux should be that Arsenal aren’t giving up on their title hopes without a fight.

They courageously answered some big questions here.

But, then again, it’s impossible to overlook what was simply the most ludicrous decision from referee Michael Oliver to award Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for one of the softest challenges you will ever see on a football pitch.

Mikel Arteta was charitable in his post-match press briefing, winning had clearly taken the sting out of the injustice.

You can only imagine how the Arsenal manager would have reacted here had his team not emerged victorious against Wolves – who were also reduced to 10 men by Oliver – thanks to Ricardo Calafiori’s second half winner.

A decision that will earn immediate entry into the refereeing hall of shame. Dreadful. Pathetic. Abysmal.

Riccardo Calafiori scored the winner for the Gunners in the 74th minute at Molineux

That came after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off by referee Michael Oliver

The fact VAR then proceeded to affirm the call merely adds to the shame of it all.

So with all that said, fair play to Arsenal for having the wherewithal to drag themselves through, though they have – in part – Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes to thank for that after the Brazilian committed to challenge, while on a yellow card, he should never have got involved in.

And all this after a largely uneventful opening. Plenty guts, little glory for both teams during the early exchanges.

Wolves – who had to replace the injured Jorgen Strand Larsen through injury early on – despite their lowly league position, more than held their own.

Had Nelson Semedo made more of Pablo Sarabia’s cross early on then they could easily have taken the lead.

Kai Havertz squander both of Arsenal’s main opportunities during the opening 45 minutes, both headers – one of which brilliantly saved by Jose Sa from point blank range.

The German’s wastefulness will have done little to quell the deafening narrative from supporters that Arsenal need to sign a new centre forward before the transfer window shuts.

Yet all of that paled into insignificance in the 43rd minute when Oliver inexplicably reached into his top pocket to brandish a straight red card.

Lewis-Skelly was controversially penalised for his challenge on Wolves defender Matt Doherty

Oliver’s decision is one that will earn immediate entry into the refereeing hall of shame

To put it mildly, Arsenal were livid at a decision that was so far out of sync with the scale of the offence that your first thought was that Oliver had inadvertently pulled out the wrong card.

But no. Oliver thought this trip on Matt Doherty, who was deep inside Wolves own half, was worthy of a red card.

Did Lewis-Skelly deny Wolves a clear goalscoring opportunity? No.

Wolves were breaking as they cleared an Arsenal set piece – but they were deep inside their own half.

The eventual confirmation from VAR indicated that the red card was awarded for serious foul play. If Lewis-Skelly’s challenge, if you can even call it that, represents an act of serious foul play then this game is finished.

‘Michael Oliver, it’s all about you,’ screamed the travelling fans. They weren’t prepared to let this one lie. Understandable, perhaps, when you consider that Oliver has now sent eight Arsenal players off during his career, the most of any club.

You’ll do well to see a decision as bad as this one this season or in the next 10 seasons for that matter.

No that the home fans were particularly concerned by the injustice. Wolves need all the help they can get if they are to successfully avoid the drop.

Calafiori’s winner sparked wild celebrations among the Gunners’ players and coaching staff

Calafiori’s goal was his second of the season and keeps Arsenal six points behind Liverpool

Arteta sacrificed Ethan Nwaneri in place of full-back Calafiori, who took Lewis-Skelly’s place at left-back.

The second half was wide open, Declan Rice and Havertz missed decent chances for Arsenal while Matheus Cunha squandered two opportunities of his own against the team he his open to joining this month.

Oliver had his red card out again in the 70th minute. This time the recipient can have no complaints.

What Gomes was thinking when he decided to lunge in on Jurrien Timber when he’d already been booked only he could explain. His teammates knew it, so did his manager.

Silly boy. Even sillier when you consider what happened moments later.

Emmanuel Agbadou’s defensive header from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross was poor. Calafiori’s drilled, left footed finish, on the other hand, was ruthless.

The Italian wheeled way to be mobbed by his team-mates and staff. They knew, in the circumstances, how significant that goal was.

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes was also dismissed after picking up a second yellow card

The result marked Wolves’ fourth league defeat in a row under new boss Vitor Pereira

Wolves, in the circumstances, knew they only had themselves to blame. Or, morepertinently, who was to blame.

Gomes will find this difficult to swallow. You’d imagine his head coach Vitor Pereira will have his say behind closed doors.

Hwang missed a good opportunity during he closing stages, denied by David Raya when clean through during a tense finale.

But in the end, Arsenal won. Wolves lost. Oliver was also a loser.