Jurrien Timber believes Arsenal proved point with impressive response to Myles Lewis-Skelly red card | OneFootball

Gunners stayed within six points of Liverpool despite first-half setback

Jurrien Timber believes Arsenal showed their character with the way they reacted to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card against Wolves.

Lewis-Skelly was sent off just before half-time of Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Molineux on Saturday after he tripped Wolves defender Matt Doherty.

Arsenal are expected to appeal the decision, but they managed to recover on Saturday to claim all three points.

Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute and the victory ensured Arsenal stayed just six points off Premier League leaders Liverpool.

“I didn’t expect the red card, to be honest,” said Timber. “But it happens, you have to react. We can’t keep talking about red cards.

“We didn’t talk about it much at half-time either. It is not the first time. It is still hard but we also know how to deal with it now. It is not nice to go into a second-half like this, but it is what it is. We showed character today. That’s what we needed.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a controversial red card

AFP via Getty Images

“You have to react. That’s the only thing you can do, that’s the only thing in your hands. Sometimes it is frustrating but mentally, emotionally, you have to find a way to get over it and pick it up as a team. We did that.”

Arsenal have had a packed January schedule and their trip to Girona in the Champions League on Wednesday will be their ninth game this month.

The Gunners have been hit hard by injuries in that time and on Saturday they were without captain Martin Odegaard after he fell ill on the morning of the game.

Mikel Arteta was, as a result, forced to name two goalkeepers on the bench and there were also four left-backs on there.

“We would never [give up],” said Timber. “That’s the character of our team. We have been through a lot this season.

“This morning we lose our captain [to illness] and that’s really hard. But with the fans, we showed we are a team and we are not easy to beat.

“It’s not easy, but games like today give you energy, especially with how the fans reacted to the red card and in the second-half. It gives you energy to keep going. This is our job and we love it, so that love brings us through.”