Gary Neville and Roy Keane accuse Ian Wright of fuelling Arsenal's Michael Oliver conspiracies

Gary Neville has jumped to the defence of Michael Oliver aft Ian Wright said it was close for the under-fire referee not to beryllium fixed Arsenal vs Manchester City

Ian Wright has been accused of fuelling Arsenal's Michael Oliver conspiracies by Gary Neville and Roy Keane.

Oliver was slammed by Gunners caput manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s fans for giving youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly a consecutive reddish paper against Wolves past weekend. The determination was ratified by VAR astatine the clip but has since been overturned connected appeal.

Arsenal person been charged for failing to power their players, who surrounded Oliver successful the aftermath of the contentious dismissal. Meanwhile, the Northumberland authoritative has been the victim of vile online abuse and has adjacent received decease threats.

Oliver has been nether constabulary protection, with specializer officers from the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) present investigating the abuse, reports The Times. The 39-year-old volition beryllium on work this weekend, but alternatively of refereeing the standout crippled betwixt the Gunners and Manchester City, helium volition oversee Ipswich Town vs Southampton.

Speaking connected the Stick to Football podcast, Gunners fable Wright supported the determination not to springiness Oliver the Arsenal-City game, pointing retired helium hadn’t issued a reddish paper to a City subordinate successful 47 games.

However, erstwhile Manchester United duo Neville and Keane were having nary of that and suggested Wright was fuelling suggestions of bias among Arsenal fans. Wright said: “He’s had 47 games with City and ne'er sent a subordinate disconnected once. It’s a fact, Gary, it’s determination for radical to see.”

Neville responded: “You’re present adding to it. 47 games with City? City astir apt haven’t made a tackle successful those games due to the fact that they had 80 per cent of the ball.”

Wright past brought up Oliver’s arguable determination not to grant a punishment against City for Jeremy Doku’s precocious situation connected Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister earlier this season. He said: “Didn’t I spot Doku successful Mac Allister’s chest?”

Keane past piped in, saying: “Oh present we go! Oh Wrighty.” Neville defended Oliver, adding: “I hatred the thought of a referee being taken disconnected a game. He’s the champion referee successful the country.

“The thought that helium would spell into that crippled and deliberation he’s going to beryllium swayed towards City… He’s not going to bash that. He’s a nonrecreational guy.”

Wright past insisted: “I’m not saying that but the fans person got each close to consciousness however they feel, what they work and what they see.”

Peter Bankes volition alternatively instrumentality complaint of Sunday’s showdown astatine the Emirates. Victory for City would bring them wrong 3 points of Arsenal, who are already six down league leaders Liverpool having played a crippled more.

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