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Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was critical of Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwor for the part that he played in the run up to Brighton’s opening goal versus the Gunners on Sunday.
The Polish center-back lost his boot during a melee in Arsenal’s six-yard box after a coming together with Julio Enciso and remained on the ground clutching his foot in agony.
While Kiwior was on the ground, Brighton played in another cross, leaving Enciso unmarked and free to head the ball past Aaron Ramsdale.
Denis Undav and Pervis Estupinan added two more goals for Brighton in their 3-0 defeat of Arsenal, which effectively ended the North London side’s Premier League title hopes.
Carragher: ‘It Was Embarassing’
Carragher took to Twitter after the match to express his opinion on whether Kiwior was fouled, and the former Liverpool defender did not believe that he was.
“It was embarrassing Kiwior stayed down whether it was a foul or not (it wasn’t) there was very little wrong with him. Get up and defend like your life depends on it,” Carragher tweeted.
Kiwor was making his third successive start after coming into the side for Rob Holding.
The 23-year-old felt he was fouled in the build-up to Enciso’s strike and confessed that he hoped VAR would rule out the goal after the fact.
“I felt contact & lost my boot,” Kiwior told Sky Sports after the fixture.
“I didn’t even see the goal. I hoped VAR would intervene & rule out the goal, but unfortunately the referee saw it differently,” he added.
“After we conceded the second goal, our heads dropped & we couldn’t come back.”
Keane: ‘His Foot Didn’t Come Off’
That sparked a debate from Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Micah Richards and Patrick Viera on Sky Sports, who all had their say on the incident.
“Kiwior is injured but the fact that he was injured, I mean… He goes down holding his ankle and left Arsenal short in the middle of the box,” Neville had said on commentary.
“He goes down. Can he not just – I’m scared of saying it… And I’m sure the lads in the studio, Roy and Patrick [Viera], might be thinking it and have a bit more to say,” Neville continued.
“If you’re injured you’re injured,” he added, “But as a center half, surely you just have to stand up and let the attack finish?”
“You talk about putting your body on the line, last-ditch defending and stuff, you don’t stay down like that,” Roy Keane added to the conversation in studio.
“Micah, his boot came off, his foot didn’t come off,” he stated.
Arsenal are now four points behind Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola’s squad must win just one of their final three games in order to claim the Premier League title.
Before the conclusion of the season, City will host Chelsea and travel to Brighton and Brentford.
Arsenal will travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and then host Wolves at the Emirates in their final game of the season.
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