'If we're serious' - Kai Havertz slammed for what he did to win Arsenal penalty vs Bournemouth

Former Premier League striker Stan Collymore has insisted Arsenal's Kai Havertz should have been booked for simulation after the Gunners were awarded a penalty against AFC Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta's men struggled to break down the visitors until the stroke of half time when Havertz's trailing foot was caught by visiting goalkeeper Mark Travers. Referee David Coote awarded the spot kick on the pitch but it took a lengthy VAR review for the decision to be confirmed.

Once given, Bukayo Saka comfortably slotted home and the hosts never looked back as they cruised to a 3-0 victory. However, posting a clip of the penalty incident on X, Collymore was critical of the officials.

He wrote: "Instead of giving these as penalties, if we're serious about getting rid of simulation, this should be a yellow card for Havertz." This sentiment was not shared by TNT Sports pundits Joe Cole and Martin Keown who both agreed that the officials came to the right decision.

Cole began: "I can see why the keeper there was protesting, but it's a penalty. You're a young 'keeper you've done fantastically well.

"Once you're in that situation, you commit and you're not gonna get it, and your leg is that extended out - Havertz has bought it. But he knows what he's doing.

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"A good goalie in that situation - a [Manuel] Neuer or someone - would have kid Havertz. [Andoni] Iraola's saying the same thing, he left his leg in there."

"It's a shame because the youngster did really well, didn't he?" Keown added. "He just needs to stay on his feet and he puts the leg out.

"Until that point actually he'd done magnificently well, it's only his third game for Bournemouth. But there he showed his inexperience and Havertz took advantage of the situation."