Arsenal moved one win away from becoming Premier League champions after Kai Havertz scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Burnley, then found himself at the center of a fierce debate over a late challenge that brought only a yellow card.
The 26-year-old headed in Bukayo Saka's corner in the 37th minute to settle the match, but midway through the second half he slid in and his studs caught Lesley Ugochukwu on the French midfielder's left calf. Referee Paul Tierney booked Havertz, and video assistant referee James Bell did not tell him to go to the pitchside monitor. The Premier League Match Centre later said the yellow card had been checked and confirmed by VAR, with the challenge judged not to be serious foul play.
That explanation did little to calm the reaction. Gary Neville called it “Vicious from Havertz. He is miles away from the ball. I don't like that. The height of it and the fact it is on the standing leg.” He added: “I don't think that is right. He is a lucky boy.” Rob Green was just as direct, saying: “Studs up, both feet off the ground, it's high. There will bunches of people referring back to still images where there have been red cards.” He said: “You speak to the players and ask which tackles do you want to eradicate and it's those ones.” Jamie Carragher also argued the decision should have gone the other way, saying: “The fact the referee has such a good view and gives a yellow card, then maybe it's difficult for the VAR to go against it.” He then added: “But how the ref has not given a red card, I don't know - it has to be a red card.” He said the force may have spared Havertz, but “The force is the one thing that saves him. I struggle to see how you get away with that given how high it is up on the calf.”
Arteta removed Havertz minutes later and sent on Viktor Gyokeres, while Arsenal protected a result that takes them to the brink of the title. The club have not had a player sent off in the Premier League this season, and that made the leniency around the challenge stand out even more. Earlier in April, the Premier League's key match incidents panel said Gabriel should have been dismissed against Manchester City on 19 April, after he pushed his forehead into Erling Haaland during City's 2-1 win and was only shown a yellow card. Put together, the two calls leave Arsenal with a narrow margin for error and a growing sense that the season's biggest decisions are now being judged as closely as the title race itself.
For Arsenal, the math is simple now: one more win and the chase that has lasted 22 years ends in a league crown. For Havertz, the afternoon in Burnley will be remembered less for the header that decided it than for the tackle that did not.
