Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville
Factor:
Gary Neville has reacted after Arsenal released a statement on Saturday (November 4) backing their manager Mikel Arteta and #039’s comments about the VAR row.
The Gunners suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season when Craig Gordonand#039; A 64th minute winner at Newcastle United put the visitors down. After several VAR reviews, the goal stood and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta condemned the decision to let the goal stand.
The club later issued a statement in support of their manager and called on the PMGOL to act to prevent “invalid refereeing and VAR errors”. Neville responded in kind, tweeting that Kai Havertz was lucky he wasn’t sent off:
andquot;I agree that Havertz probably should have left.andquot;
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Earlier in the game, Havertz was lucky to avoid a red card for a tackle on Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff. The decision infuriated Magpie, but the German stayed.
After their first league defeat of the season, the Gunners are third in the table with 24 points from 11 games, three behind leaders Manchester City.
andquot;They are trying, but he seems confused andquot; – Chris Sutton with Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz has endured a difficult start at the Emirates. Kai Havertz has endured a difficult start at the Emirates. Chelsea’s Kai Havertz’s £65m move from London to Arsenal this summer has raised eyebrows. The German has come in for his fair share of critics after managing just one goal and one assist in 17 games at the Emirates. Havertz had a forgettable outing at Newcastle and was not sent off by accident.
Former player Chris Sutton believes Havertzand’s decision-making leaves something to be desired and is not about confidence. On the Itand#039;s All Coming Up podcast, he said (intentionally):
andquot;Havertz looks like a broken man, a player with absolutely zero confidence. I’ve been there myself, so it’s not a nice place. They try, but he seems confused. decision making is not good. He’s trying, but looking at his body language… he needs a break, a big moment. No mercy penalties like at the beginning of the season.andquot;
Havertz and Arsenal will hope to return to winning ways at home to Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday (November 8).