Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has had his say on Michael Oliver's decision to award Gabriel Martinelli a red card during Arsenal's win over Wolves.
The Gunners secured a huge victory in the Premier League clash at Molineux Stadium, with Gabriel Magalhaes' goal clinching all three points for his side - their first win since Boxing Day.
However, the victory was marred by Martinelli's second-half red card as the 20-year-old received his marching orders for two quick-fire yellow cards in the same passage of play, a controversial decision from referee Oliver.
Now, Halsey has admitted that Oliver's decision to brandish a red card was harsh on Martinelli, claiming that the referee should have stopped the game after the first offence.
“Gabriel Martinelli’s quick-fire red card at Wolves was harsh,” he told CaughtOffside. “The Arsenal forward was initially cautioned for pushing Daniel Podence as he was taking a throw-in.
“Then, five seconds later Martinelli fouled Wolves winger Chiquinho thus denying him a promising attack.
“Referee, Michael Oliver, was correct in law to issue two cautions at the same time for two offences, but I believe he should have managed the incidents better than he did for a referee of his calibre.
“If Oliver wanted to caution Martinelli for the first offence he should have stopped the game as the offence occurred.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left particularly dismayed with the decision, which was the fourth red card his side have received in their last five outings.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, the Spaniard said: "If you ask me if I’m happy with the decisions we’ve had this season, I’m not at all.
"But that’s a conversation I will have privately with the officials. We need explanations, we need explanations with what happened in VAR and I need explanations with what happened today."
