Arsenal fans furious as Kai Havertz snubbed from taking penalty before ‘horrible’ spot kick
ARSENAL fans fumed as Kai Havertz was denied taking a penalty – before Leandro Trossard’s miss.
The Gunners were leading Shakhtar Donetsk after Gabriel Martinelli’s strike on the half hour mark forced an own goal from keeper Dmytro Riznyk.
But Arsenal had the chance to wrap the game up with 15 minutes to go after Valeriy Bondar handled in the box.
Following a VAR check, referee Benoit Bastien pointed to the spot.
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s chief penalty taker but the England winger was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Havertz has taken a penalty for the Gunners before and has missed only once from 12 yards in his career.
But still it was Trossard who was given responsibility – for the first time in an Arsenal shirt.
And his effort was saved by the legs of Riznyk to make up for his earlier mistake.
It left Gooners fuming as one said: “Havertz has scored 20 of the 21 penalties he’s taken in his career. Why was Trossard taking it?”
Another added: “You get a penalty and give it to Trossard yet your best penalty taker (Havertz) is on pitch.
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“We can really take risks and that’s not acceptable.”
One raged: “Havertz is way too nice too. Should have snatched the ball straight away from Trossard.”
Another fumed: “Why didn’t Havertz take the pen? Of the 11 on the field, he is the logical penalty taker for Arsenal. Horrible penalty from Trossard.”
Fortunately for Trossard, Arsenal held onto their 1-0 lead to win the game but Arteta said it was not his decision for the Belgian to take the penalty.
He said: “I dunno the conversation as he [Havertz] is one of the takers, Leo decided to take it, okay he missed it unfortunately.”