‘I think…Dermot Gallagher now shares why Kai Havertz didn’t get sent off for diving for Arsenal this weekend

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Kai Havertz made himself a talking point this weekend by ‘diving’ in the Arsenal win over Brentford at The Emirates.

Havertz ended up being the hero in the end by nodding home a dramatic winner but prior to that goal, he had been desperate to get the winner by any means.

That led to the German going down very easily in the box trying to win a penalty. The referee didn’t have it, and the VAR also decided nothing was going to be given. But with Havertz on a yellow card, some felt he should have been given a second card for diving.

However, speaking on Sky Sports, former referee Dermot Gallagher stuck up for the officials in not giving Havertz a red.

Dermot Gallagher shares his view on Kai Havertz ‘dive’ v Brentford

Speaking on Sky about the incident, Gallagher explained why Havertz didn’t get his marching orders.

“What we have to remember here is that the VAR says no penalty. He can’t recommend a second yellow card. The only time he can say it’s simulation, is if the referee gives the penalty, cos he’s then deceived the referee. If he says no penalty, then the referee can’t then go and send him off, so there’s the dilemma, there’s no halfway house,” Gallagher said.

“I think no [to a second yellow] because I think there’s enough physical contact. I think he hits him with his hip. If you’re going to send a player off for diving it’s got to be a clear dive.”

Havertz was still lucky

This was pure desperation from the Arsenal forward. The game looked like it was slipping away from them and he desperately tried to get something from nothing.

On another day, a referee spots this as a clear dive and gives a second yellow. Indeed, you have to question why if he didn’t give the pen here, then why did Havertz get away with it?

It mattered little in the end, of course. But it could have been a pivotal moment in the title race and had Havertz seen red, then it might have ended 1-1.