Journalist Charles Watts has now taken aim at one Bayern Munich star who he does not think should be allowed to play in the second-leg against Arsenal.
The first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final clash between Arsenal and Bayern Munich was a game full of incident and contentious moments.
Both sides felt that they should have had a penalty that wasn’t given. Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel was convinced that his side ought to have been awarded a spot-kick after Gabriel Magalhaes handled the ball in the box in bizarre circumstances.
Meanwhile, former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand was shocked that the referee did not point to the spot when Bukayo Saka went to ground in the box late on after making contact with German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Should Harry Kane have been sent off in Arsenal v Bayern Munich?
There was also a potential red card incident in this game. Gabriel and former Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane grappled and battled with one another throughout the match and in one instance the striker’s temper seemed to flare.
Arsenal fans are convinced that Kane should have been sent off after he appeared to elbow Gabriel. The England man was about to compete in an aerial duel with the Brazilian defender. The striker looked over his shoulder, saw Gabriel coming, and swung back an arm as they were both about to go for the ball.
Kane’s elbow made firm contact with Gabriel’s throat, sending the centre-back to the ground. The Emirates Stadium crowd, and Mikel Arteta on the sidelines, erupted in fury, demanding that Kane be sent off.
However, the referee did not deem the incident serious enough to warrant a dismissal. Of course, had the ex-Spurs forward been given his marching orders, then he would have been ineligible play in the second-leg at the Allianz Arena on April 17th.
Charles Watts gives verdict on Harry Kane clash with Gabriel Magalhaes
As it is, though, the Gunners must now contend with the threat that he poses all over again. It would have been a major boost for the North London club had Kane been suspended for this meeting in Munich. Arsenal fans and Arteta will feel aggrieved that the 30-year-old dodged such a punishment.
Charles Watts believes that Kane got very lucky indeed in this instance. Speaking on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, the reporter took aim at the referee, saying, “what I did think was a clanger was Harry Kane not getting sent off. That is just a definite, definite red card. He looks, he sees Gabriel come in, he knows exactly what he’s going to do and he elbows him in the throat…If it’s not dangerous play, I don’t know what is, I really, really don’t. I think Harry Kane absolutely got away with one there. He shouldn’t be playing in the second-leg, it should have been a red card.”
READ MORE: 8 worst Arsenal VAR decisions of all time in Premier League games