Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Harry Kane ‘lucky’ to get away with ‘stupid’ Arsenal moment
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane could have potentially been at the receiving end of another red card from referee Anthony Taylor had the officials decided to punish him for a seemingly risky challenge on Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes on Saturday at the Emirates.
Emerson Royal was sent off in the 62nd minute for a foul on Gabriel Martinelli, with VAR playing a big role in him getting his marching orders. Arsenal scored five minutes after that and extended their lead to 3-1.
Perhaps in frustration or just due to his reflexes, Kane seemingly took two bites at Arsenal’s Gabriel around the 74th minute. He was, however, not punished for his actions (Video).
The video looks worse for Kane when it is slowed down, and a case can be made that he did try to go at Gabriel – once with his left foot, then with his right. Nevertheless, it’s a thing of the past and no one came out injured from it.
According to former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who joined the Lilywhites in 2004 from Leeds United, it was a ‘stupid’ moment that Kane that he is lucky not to be punished for. He exclusively told Football Insider:
“There is cameras in every single stand that they have got. You do not see it much now because players know they are going to get caught. It was a daft niggly one from Kane. He was frustrated because they were losing the game. You could see the way the game was going.”
“It was a stupid one. He is running the risk of VAR intervening. Look, he should not have done it even though there was not much in it. I’m glad the referee just got on with the game.”
Losing Kane for the next few games in case he was sent off would have been a big blow. Lucas Moura and Dejan Kulusevski were absent from the starting XI against the Gunners and it remains to be seen when they will be match-fit to feature in the first eleven again.
The 29-year-old England international is the focal point of this Spurs team’s attack. Richarlison, Deki, and Son Heung-min deservingly get their plaudits, but Kane is arguably our most prized asset.
The England captain has the task of helping Spurs progress from their UEFA Champions League group and the game tonight against Die Adler will be hugely significant in that regard. After that, an in-form Brighton and Hove Albion welcome us at the Amex on October 8.
More Tottenham News:
- Ivan Perisic gives verdict on ‘mentoring’ Ryan Sessegnon at Tottenham Hotspur
- Peter Crouch is surprised that Son Heung-Min is still at Tottenham Hotspur
- Antonio Conte admits injury “worry” for Tottenham Hotspur star Lucas Moura after latest setback
Thankfully, we have Kane fit and firing. We aren’t the same team in attack without him, after all.
