‘Miles away’ – Arsenal’s Kai Havertz ‘lucky’ to avoid red card against Burnley

Former England goalkeeper Rob Green agreed with Neville that Havertz was lucky to stay on the field.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Green said: “The spikes are up, both feet are off the ground, that’s high. “There will be a lot of people referencing still images with red cards.

“You talk to the players and ask what struggles you want to eliminate, and those are the struggles.”

Arsenal have not sent off a player in the Premier League this season, but earlier this month the Premier League highlights panel said defender Gabriel should be sent off against Manchester City on April 19.

Gabriel pushed his forehead towards striker Erling Haaland during City’s 2-1 win but only received a yellow card.

Former England defender Jamie Carragher of Sky Sports also described Havertz as “lucky” and added: “When you think about the two big decisions that led to red cards. They’re lucky to get away with two big decisions.”

On Havertz’s challenge, Carragher said: “For the referee to have such a good view and give a yellow card then maybe it would be difficult for VAR to challenge it.

“But I don’t know how the referee didn’t give a red card. It should have been a red card. The only thing that saved him was strength. I have a hard time seeing how he would have gotten out of it, given how high his calf was.”

But Patrick Vieira, the last Arsenal captain to lift the Premier League trophy, felt Tierney made the right decision.

“It’s a challenge from behind and you can see the nails, but it was the right decision by the referee,” Vieira said on Sky Sports.

“There was not enough strength and power for a red card. The yellow card was a fair decision.”

Burnley’s interim boss Mike Jackson told the BBC that his team should play against 10 people.

“This is a red card in today’s match and it is dangerous,” Jackson said. “He could have hurt him too. That means it’s down to 10 with 20 minutes left; we’re still in the game.”