Myles Lewis-Skelly was substituted just 34 minutes into Arsenal’s impressive 7-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven.
The young player was fortunate to remain on the pitch after challenges that could have resulted in a red card during the first leg of the round of 16.
Lewis-Skelly, 18, received a yellow card in the 24th minute for a foul in his own half.
Shortly after, he conceded another foul for a late challenge on Richard Ledezma.
PSV players appealed for a second yellow card, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano decided against it.
Arsenal then took a commanding three-goal lead with goals from Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, and Mikel Merino.
Following Merino’s goal, Mikel Arteta substituted Lewis-Skelly.
Riccardo Calafiori replaced the young player.
Lewis-Skelly appeared disappointed as he took his place on the bench for the rest of the match.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer supported the substitution, stating that keeping Lewis-Skelly on the field would have been a “risk”.
Shearer commented, “Myles Lewis-Skelly was in a precarious situation after receiving a yellow card.”
“If he hadn’t already been booked, that challenge would have certainly warranted a yellow. Arsenal were fortunate on that occasion.”
“It seemed inevitable that a substitution was coming, and Riccardo Calafiori replaced Lewis-Skelly.”
“With a comfortable three-goal lead, there was no need to risk playing with ten men. It was a sensible decision.”
Lewis-Skelly was previously sent off in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League.
In that game, he was deemed the last defender and was sent off for bringing down Mohammed Kudus, who was through on goal.
Earlier in the season, he also faced a controversial red card for a foul on Matt Doherty against Wolves.
His subsequent three-match ban was overturned, with Referees chief Howard Webb acknowledging the decision was incorrect but not “horrendous”.
PSV briefly found a way back into the game when Noa Lang scored a penalty before halftime.
However, Arsenal quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback as Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard scored early in the second half, extending the lead to 5-1.
Odegaard later added another goal, making it 6-1 in the 73rd minute.
Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly’s replacement, completed the scoring, securing Arsenal’s seventh goal in the final moments of the match.
