Harry Kane may have been lucky to avoid a red card against Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
Harry Kane was ‘extremely lucky’ not to be shown a red card during Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday night, escaping with a yellow after catching Gabriel with an elbow.
It was a brilliant contest at the Emirates, which saw Bukayo Saka give the home side an early lead before former Arsenal man Serge Gnabry equalised.
Kane then scored from the penalty spot to put Bayern ahead and it took a late equaliser for the Gunners from substitute Leandro Trossard to make sure the game ended level.
The England captain could easily have been sent off before Trossard netted, though, after a controversial clash with Arsenal’s Brazilian centre-back.
The 30-year-old has his back to Gabriel, turned to see where he was, then swung an elbow which landed on his jaw.
It sounds bad and did indeed look bad, with former elite referee Keith Hackett believing Kane was very fortunate to avoid a sending off after using ‘dangerous, reckless and with excessive force.’
‘Kane knew exactly what he was doing, as you can tell from his glance back at Gabriel to see where his opponent was positioned,’ Hackett told The Telegraph.
‘Kane can consider himself extremely lucky to have only received a yellow card that leaves him available for the second leg with everything still to play for.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would not be drawn on the incident, saying: ‘I haven’t seen it again. The referee has made a decision and that’s done.’
Bayern Munich may have also been unlucky, with manager Thomas Tuchel convinced they were robbed of a penalty kick.
After referee Glenn Nyberg blew the whistle to resume play at a goal-kick, David Raya played the ball to Gabriel who was standing just a few yards away. However, the Brazilian picked up the ball before placing it back down on the pitch and passing it back to Raya.
No penalty was given, despite Bayern protests, and Tuchel claims the referee said he refused to give a penalty in a Champions League quarter-final for something so silly.
‘For me, and for all of us he did a huge mistake in not giving a penalty,’ said Tuchel.
‘I know it’s crazy situation but they put the ball down, he whistles, they give the ball free and the defender takes the ball in his hand.
‘What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. He [the referee] told our players that it’s a kid’s mistake and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarter final.
‘This is a horrible, horrible explanation because that means he’s judging our handballs. Kid’s mistake, adult’s mistake, or whatever.
‘We feel angry because it’s a huge decision against us but okay, it’s 2-2, things are now totally even and we have a second leg to play and we hope we can create the same atmosphere and play with the same intensity and passion like today to create the same atmosphere in our stadium and push things in our direction.’
MORE : Thomas Tuchel ‘angry’ with referee explanation after Arsenal avoided penalty vs Bayern Munich
MORE : Harry Kane reveals how he knew what David Raya would do for Bayern Munich penalty
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