Kai Havertz Lucky To Escape Red Card For Wild Challenge Against Newcastle

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz was very lucky to avoid the first red card of his Premier League career during Saturday's away game at Newcastle.

Havertz committed a foul on Sean Longstaff in the 37th minute that led to a furious response from several Newcastle players.

Both of Havertz's feet were off the ground as he recklessly launched into a wild challenge that left Longstaff in a heap on the floor.

Much to the bemusement of the Newcastle players and fans, referee Stuart Attwell only issued Havertz with a yellow card, rather than sending him off.

A VAR review followed but the original punishment stood.

The incident actually worked out pretty well for Havertz and Arsenal because three Newcastle players - Longstaff, Fabian Schar and Anthony Gordon - also received yellow cards as a result of their complaints to Attwell.

Not since 2016 had three players from the same team been booked for dissent in the first half of a Premier League game.

Newcastle went on to win Saturday's game 1-0.

Gordon scored the decisive goal, which was awarded following another controversial VAR review.

Kai Havertz (center) pictured receiving a yellow card during Arsenal's EPL game away at Newcastle

IMAGO/Sportimage/Nigel Roddis