There was more than one controversial moment during Arsenal’s 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. It was a game packed with drama and incident.
It is set up for the second leg at the Allianz Arena next week, with everything still to play for. One penalty was given during the 90 minutes – converted by who else than Harry Kane – but Bayern could have had another, while Arsenal believe they should have had one right at the death when Bukayo Saka went down under the challenge of Manuel Neuer.
Neither were given though, perhaps evening things out on the night. But there was one other moment of controversy. Kane may well count himself lucky not to have been sent off after a flailing arm into the neck of Gabriel Magalhaes.
The referee saw the incident and brandished a yellow card, with VAR not getting involved in upgrading the punishment. Many Arsenal fans have spoken out about the incident on social media, while former referee Keith Hackett wrote in his Telegraph column that Kane “can count himself a lucky boy”.
Hackett went on to say: “His swinging elbow to the face of Arsenal defender Gabriel was dangerous, reckless and with excessive force.
“Kane knew exactly what he was doing, as you can tell from his glance back at Gabriel to see where his opponent was positioned. I’m sorry, but as soon as you take your eyes off the ball and play the man, you are asking for trouble.”
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But Arsenal legend Thierry Henry seemingly does not agree. Henry has not spoken out on the Kane incident directly, but his recent comments on Erling Haaland suggest he would not be asking for Kane to be shown a red card for the incident with Gabriel.
In discussing Haaland’s hold up play against Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League, Henry said: “There is one thing he doesn’t do ever so well. He is always shoulder to shoulder with the defender so you can always put your foot in, but if you go like this (gestures to put the arm out into the chest of Jamie Carragher) there is no way you can get that ball now.
“I create a distance, go three-quarter you can hold that ball, after it’s you and your quality and what you can do but you cannot let the defender put a eg here or a leg here or put his arm around you. You grab him first, then you dictate.”
Now Arsenal fans will argue that Kane did not put an arm into the chest of Gabriel, it went into the face, but that’s not entirely accurate either, it was more the neck and that suggests it was an arm to protect the ball, rather than a malicious elbow.
It’s Arsenal vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg this week and the only place you can watch the action, apart from at the Emirates Stadium, is live on TNT Sports.
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