Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Mark Travers has accused Kai Havertz of initiating contact for a penalty in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
The Cherries' keeper was adjudged to have fouled the German just before half-time, allowing Bukayo Saka to open the scoring.
"I feel he dangles his leg out," Travers told TNT Sports. "There is contact but from a goalkeeper’s point of view I don’t understand how I am going to make the save [if I stand still].
"Havertz is coming in trying to score, if he shoots first time you are just trying to make the save. I am not thinking about Havertz or if I'm going to tackle him, I'm just trying to make the save."
VAR did not advise referee David Coote to review the decision on the pitch-side monitor.
"I don't understand why the ref can’t just go over there quickly and make his own decision," said Travers.
"He is there in the moment, he made the first initial decision. It’s a tough one, but you would like to see it get reviewed."
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola conceded his team did not deserve to leave north London with the three points but suggested he may have to start asking his players to look for decisions as he fumed at the Havertz call .
"First of all, I have to say that Arsenal deserved to win," he said.
"But I don't think the game should have gone the way it did, with the penalty decisions. For me, Kai Havertz is the one trying to find the contact.
"If we are giving penalties for this, then as a coach I have to say 'look for the contact’".
Havertz told TNT Sports: "I mean I haven't seen the replay but he touches me. In the situation I felt the contact and that’s why I went down. For me it’s a pen and I said to the goalkeeper as well 'You touched me'. He understood on the pitch."
Arsenal are potentially two wins away from winning their first league title in 20 years after seeing off a spirited Cherries side at the Emirates.
It remains out of their hands as reigning champions Manchester City have a game in hand but all Arteta’s side can do at this stage is win their remaining fixtures, a trip to Manchester United and the visit of Everton on the final day.
However, Erling Haaland has warned City are fully focused on their title "mission" after his brilliant four-goal blast against Wolves.
The Norwegian enjoyed a stunning return to form as the champions cruised to a 5-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to remain on course for a historic fourth successive Premier League crown.
It was an emphatic response to leaders Arsenal's defeat of Bournemouth earlier in the day and kept them within a point of the Gunners – who have played a game more – with three fixtures to play.
Haaland, who has now scored 36 goals in an injury-hit campaign, said after his ninth City hat-trick: "It was a great game. It was important win, obviously, and fantastic to score four goals.
"It was a difficult game. They can play football so it was not easy but we were solid and we're on a mission.
"Now focus on the next one. I’m confident but we have to keep going, we have to push and focus."
Haaland also swatted aside the criticism of Roy Keane , who compared the prolific City striker to a "League Two player" when referring to his general play last month.
"I don't really care that much about that man, so that’s all right," said Haaland in an interview with a broadcaster from his native Norway.
Any bitterness is likely rooted in Keane’s long-running feud with Haaland’s father Alf-Inge. Keane was notoriously sent off for a bad tackle on Haaland senior in 2001.
City will have the chance to take top spot when they play at Fulham next Saturday.
They then travel to Tottenham before wrapping up their campaign with a home clash against West Ham.
Given City’s experience of prevailing in such circumstances, their form looks ominous for Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in 20 Premier League matches, 16 of which have been won, and they now have Haaland looking back to his best.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
