Former England strikers Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have now leapt the defence of one Arsenal star after an incident that occurred against Bournemouth this weekend.
Arsenal were able to earn a 3-0 win against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
However, had Mikel Arteta’s side been more efficient in the opening period, they would have quickly amassed an unassailable lead. The Gunners carved out plenty of very presentable opportunities, but a combination of wayward finishing and gritty last-ditch defending from the Cherries prevented them from making a breakthrough.
Arsenal finally broke the deadlock just before the break, when Bukayo Saka coolly converted from the penalty spot.
Arteta’s side had been awarded the spot kick by referee David Coote after Kai Havertz was brought down in the box by Mark Travers.
Replays showed that after the German forward poked the ball around the goalkeeper, his trailing leg was clipped by the sliding Bournemouth man.
There is an argument that Havertz left his trailing foot low so as to deliberately cause contact. However, even if that is the case, that does not mean that it wasn’t a foul on the 24-year-old striker.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer side with Kai Havertz over Arsenal penalty controversy
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer certainly don’t think that the Arsenal man did anything wrong.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: “That was a penalty. If you look at it in normal speed, the keeper comes out rashly, misses the ball completely, why should the centre-forward leap out of the way of him?”
Shearer then added: “The keeper is stupid enough to come out like that, then you’re inviting contact. The forward doesn’t have to jump over him…He can leave his foot there and make contact. I thought it was a stupid challenge from the goalkeeper.”
Havertz was praised for his all-round performance against Bournemouth, and showed his sharpness in this incident. He had every right to go down when he felt the contact, and it was not incumbent on him to dodge out the way of Travers either, as the 24-year-old shot-stopper came hurtling across his path.
Mikel Arteta needs Kai Havertz to keep impressing for Arsenal
Havertz has shone for a striker in recent months, and although he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself against the Cherries, he was able to make a vital contribution.
The Gunners now need the £65 million former Chelsea man to keep firing on all cylinders for the final two matches of the season. Arsenal need to win both of these games in order to stand any chance of being crowned champions.
Havertz has been called a big game player in the past, and will need to step up again when Arteta’s team travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Sunday.
