Arsenal secured a vital 3-0 victory over Bournemouth to keep their Premier League title hopes alive, but there was plenty of drama in the game.
Goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice handed Arsenal the three points, and the home side could have scored even more after a dominant first-half performance.
Mikel Arteta may have been concerned if his side went into the half-time break with the scores level given their performance, but Kai Havertz was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Mark Travers, and Saka scored the resulting spot kick, despite Bournemouth claims that it should not have been a penalty.
Arsenal had their own right to feel aggrieved by decisions in the first half though, as Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie was lucky to avoid a red card for a reckless challenge on Saka, and Gunners legend Martin Keown has now questioned the decision.
Martin Keown admits fear over Bukayo Saka in Arsenal victory over Bournemouth
Speaking on TNT Sports at half time (13:28, 04/05), Keown admitted that he was worried when Saka initially went down, and slammed the challenge from Christie.
“At the time, I jumped up straight away there. Studs went up. Of course, it’s Saka, so we were all extra concerned. And you just look at it from there, it’s high,” he stated.
“That’s your ligament. Saka has got to his feet, but a little bit surprised that VAR didn’t really have a close look at that. I don’t like players getting sent off, but he was lucky there.”
Arsenal have a right to be angry over challenges on Bukayo Saka
Saka is a player often double-marked by opposition teams, and there is concern both over his workload, as well as the regular fouling he receives.
The 22-year-old is constantly fouled with heavy challenges, and there have been calls in the past for referees to offer more protection to Arsenal’s talisman.
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The challenge from Christie was a reckless one, and it could have resulted in serious injury, yet the 29-year-old was not even booked for the challenge, and went on to commit more fouls in the game before eventually receiving a yellow card in the dying minutes.
Saka did have the last laugh today as he scored and his side won, but it could have been a very different game if Christie was given his marching orders, or if the England star was forced to come off injured.
