Havertz Tackle Survives VAR Check in Arsenal's 1-0 Win

Kai Havertz's havertz tackle on Lesley Ugochukwu stayed at a yellow card in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Burnley on 19 May 2024. The booking came midway through the second half after a sliding challenge that drew immediate scrutiny, while Arsenal moved one win away from becoming champions.

Havertz and Ugochukwu

Havertz slid in and his studs caught Ugochukwu on the left calf. Referee Paul Tierney booked him, and video assistant referee James Bell did not send him to the pitchside monitor. The Premier League Match Centre said the yellow card was checked and upheld, with the challenge judged not to be serious foul play.

That decision came after Havertz had already put Arsenal in front. He started instead of Viktor Gyokeres and headed Bukayo Saka's corner in the 37th minute for the game's only goal. Minutes after the challenge, Mikel Arteta replaced him with Gyokeres.

Neville, Green, Carragher

The tackle landed in a title race where every call carried weight. Arsenal had not had a player sent off in the Premier League this season, and earlier in May the Premier League's key match incidents panel said Gabriel should have been dismissed against Manchester City on 19 April 2024 after he pushed his forehead into Erling Haaland during City's 2-1 win. That backdrop sharpened the reaction to Havertz's booking.

Gary Neville called the challenge harsh and said, '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.' After VAR stayed out, he added, 'I don't think that is right. He is a lucky boy.' Rob Green said, '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 also said, 'You speak to the players and ask which tackles do you want to eradicate and it's those ones.'

Arsenal's Title Margin

Jamie Carragher was just as blunt, saying Havertz was 'lucky' and that Arsenal were 'lucky to get away with two big decisions.' He added, '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.' Then he went further: 'But how the ref has not given a red card, I don't know - it has to be a red card.'

For Arsenal, the result mattered as much as the debate. The 1-0 win kept the title chase alive and left them one win away from becoming champions. Havertz scored the goal that separated the teams, then walked a narrow line on the challenge that could have changed the match and the race around it.