Linesman tumbles onto pitch after crashing into substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League clash | OneFootball

A linesman took a massive tumble after crashing into a warming-up substitute in Arsenal’s crucial Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Dutch official Hessel Steegstra was sprinting down the right touchline as Arsenal lumped the ball forward to Viktor Gyokeres, only to see his path blocked by a side-stepping Bayer Leverkusen replacement.

It was teenage winger Montrell Culbreath he clattered into and the linesman came off much worse than the German under-19 international, flying over the touchline and onto the pitch as the referee blew for a free-kick for a foul on Gyokeres.

Steegstra emerged uninjured from the incident as he got to his feet with perhaps only his pride hurt, regaining composure for the set piece that was to come.

That didn’t stop TNT Sports commentary duo Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist from poking fun at the Dutchman, with commentator Darren Fletcher laughing: “Look how far he’s gone onto the pitch! I think he’s over-egged that. The lino’s going to get booked for simulation if he carries on like that.

Rangers legend McCoist replied: “I disagree, I think he goes down under reasonable justification,” to which Fletcher joked: “You’re describing that as graceful? Disgraceful, I have to say.”

McCoist then speculated that Culbreath may have landed himself in hot water for straying his path, saying: “He won’t be happy with substitutes anyway, I can tell you they’ll get an earful.”

Arsenal went into their last-16 second leg on Tuesday night all square with the Bundesliga club after being held to a 1-1 draw in Germany last week.

But fantastic goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice either side of half-time have put Mikel Arteta’s side on the verge of progressing to the Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Sporting CP after they came from a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat surprise package Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate.