Rio Ferdinand slams 'horrendous' Myles Lewis-Skelly red card, backs Mohamed Salah for goal-assist record

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TNT Sports expert Rio Ferdinand called Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card against Wolves an "awful decision". Arsenal overcame their adversity by beating Vitor Pereira's side 1-0 thanks to Riccardo Calafiori's 74th-minute winner, while the hosts had Joao Gomes dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Jurrien Timber to even the numbers on the field. Arsenal remain second in the Premier League table.

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Rio Ferdinand has branded Myles Lewis-Skelly’s sending off during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves as a "horrendous decision" as the TNT Sports expert gave his thoughts on the weekend's action.

The Gunners left-back was controversially dismissed by referee Michael Oliver at Molineux on Saturday after he cynically chopped down the breaking Matt Doherty in the first half.

Despite seeing his side claim victory, manager Mikel Arteta was left seething with the decision and said the club intended to appeal.

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Ferdinand lambasted Oliver’s decision to dismiss Lewis-Skelly for the challenge, with the former Manchester United defender incredulous that VAR had not intervened to overturn the call.

"I thought it was a shocking decision," Ferdinand said.

"There were still 60-odd yards before anyone got to goal. There were players around. A terrible decision.

"This is the sort of decision that VAR is there for. How VAR have not intervened and made the decision right is well beyond me. Horrendous decision. Awful decision."

'Can't bet against' Salah to break Henry record

Ferdinand, who made 504 Premier League appearances in his career, also said that no one could bet against Mohamed Salah breaking Thierry Henry’s record of 20 goals and 20 assists in a single league campaign.

The Egyptian forward, whose contract at Liverpool expires at the end of the current season, already has 19 goals and 13 assists this term for Arne Slot’s league leaders after striking again in the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday.

"The trajectory that Mo Salah is on right now, he surpasses that [Henry's record], it seems," Ferdinand said.

"Whether he can do that is a different story. You need a bit of luck in terms of staying fit and maintaining form.

"You need your team to keep providing you chances, and you to keep putting them on a plate for other people, but the form that he’s in, the run that he’s on at the moment, and the fact that they’re top of the league and are full of confidence, you can’t bet against him."

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Top six 'has to be the aim' for in-form Bournemouth

One of the surprise packages in the Premier League this season has been Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, who are seventh in the table, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

The Cherries are in scintillating form and on a 12-match unbeaten streak in all competitions that stretches back to late November.

Iraola’s side have been on a recent goal glut, following up a stunning 4-1 victory at St James’ Park by thrashing fellow overachievers Nottingham Forest 5-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, with stand-in striker Dango Ouattara netting a hat-trick.

Ferdinand, a former Cherry himself, believes that European qualification is not out of the Dorset outfit’s reach.

"I think Bournemouth have got to be up there in the shake-up," Ferdinand said.

"The form that they’re in and the way that they’re playing, they’ve got an opportunity to be a team that are in and around it. They’re aggressive, they’re physical. Other teams at the moment can’t stay with them in that sense.

"They’ve got players who are full of confidence and finishing chances. The key thing is, can they maintain it? Can they continue the momentum? They’re definitely going to be there or thereabouts. Top six, I think, has got to be an aim for them."

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Isak 'can' win golden boot but Salah, Haaland 'more lethal'

Meanwhile, Newcastle United were back to winning ways after their home humbling by Bournemouth, as they came from behind to beat bottom club Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s.

Amongst the goals once more was Alexander Isak. who took his tally to 17 league goals, putting him third in the golden boot race behind Salah and Erling Haaland, who are on 19 and 18 respectively.

While Ferdinand does not think that Isak will usurp either the Liverpool wideman or the Manchester City forward, he does believe that the Swede has a chance.

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"I think he can [win the golden boot], but I don’t think he will," Ferdinand said.

"You’ve got two other goalscorers who are more experienced and a bit more lethal than him, and they’re going to get more chances than him.

"They get more chances and their conversion rate is going to be high. Haaland and Salah – one of those two – will get the golden boot, but Isak won’t be far off, and he’s doing a great job this year."

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