- Gary Neville blasted Kai Havertz for a ‘stupid’ challenge on Sean Longstaff
- Havertz only received a yellow for the tackle with three Newcastle stars booked
- Kai Havertz is broken man at Arsenal: Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Gary Neville has blasted Kai Havertz for a ‘stupid’ and ‘dangerous’ challenge on Sean Longstaff in Arsenal‘s clash against Newcastle that saw him go flying in on his rival.
Newcastle players were up in arms and surrounding the referee after the German midfielder’s reckless challenge and they were left stunned as Havertz escaped with a yellow card.
Commentator Gary Neville was also shocked by the first half incident as he hammered Havertz for the tackle, claiming the player was ‘never getting there’.
‘It’s a stupid, stupid challenge,’ he said on commentary. ‘I think it was dangerous, he was never getting there. He lunges in.’
Such were Newcastle’s demonstrations that three of their players ended up getting booked for dissent – Anthony Gordon, Longstaff and Fabian Schar – with Neville quipping that Havertz had inadvertently earned a good result out of the challenge.
Kai Havertz has been slammed after his reckless challenge on Sean Longstaff during Arsenal’s clash against Newcastle
Gary Neville called his tackle ‘stupid and dangerous’ with Newcastle players left furious
‘He’s done well out of it in the end Havertz, three Newcastle players booked!’
Carragher agreed with Neville on Havertz’s challenge, adding: ‘It’s a stupid challenge from Havertz. Everyone is crowding around the ref trying to get a player sent off.’
Later there was even more drama after Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes appeared to elbow Arsenal’s Jorginho on the back of his head – but received no punishment from the referee.
On that incident, Carragher admitted it was ‘not great’ but didn’t deem it worthy of a sending off.
‘I think it was more of a forearm from Guimaraes,’ he said. ‘He just lost his head. It’s not great. For me if the referee sees it it’s a yellow card, I don’t think it’s a red card.’
Havertz has had a difficult spell at Arsenal since completing a £65million move from Chelsea this summer – having scored once and assisted once across 16 appearances.
Bruno Guimaraes, meanwhile, was not punished for an apparent elbow on Jorginho
Speaking on Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off, Chris Sutton claimed he ‘looked like a broken man with no confidence’ after putting in a poor display during Arsenal’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham.
‘Havertz looks a broken man, a player with absolutely zero confidence. Having been there myself, it’s not a nice place to be.
‘The effort is there but he seems muddled. decision-making isn’t good. He’s trying but looking at his body language… he needs a break, a big moment. Not sympathy penalties like earlier in the season’.
Sutton’s views are shared by a former Arsenal star, William Gallas, who recently slammed Havertz’s performances for the Gunners.
‘I’m not impressed with Kai Havertz so far,’ he told Lord Ping. ‘He’s done nothing since he joined Arsenal.
‘He may have scored, but that was only because Martin Odegaard let him take a penalty! Havertz hasn’t done anything yet, and I think he’s in trouble.’
