Arsenal’s penalty shoot-out defeat vs Man United sparks debate about Celtic hero Kyogo Furuhashi

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Kyogo Furuhashi was back amongst the goals at the weekend in Celtic’s win against Ross County.

The Japanese striker bagged a brace as he adopted a new Celtic role Rodgers gave him in Dingwall and, to be honest, Kyogo did seem to thrive.

Kyogo’s goalscoring record under Brendan Rodgers has not been as prolific as it once was under Ange Postecoglou but there is no doubt the Celtic hero changed the game against Ross County at the weekend.

However, it was what happened in England in the Carabao Cup that sparked this debate between Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman about the Celtic striker as Arsenal lost on penalties to Man United.

• READ MORE: Chris Sutton puts journalist straight discussing Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and West Ham

Chris Sutton defends Kyogo Furuhashi’s Celtic penalty stance

Sutton told It’s All Kicking Off [17m], “I think it’s a bit embarrassing for the outfield players if a goalkeeper takes a penalty. If they are the best at that particular skill, what’s the issue?

Ladyman: “It’s not always because of that. Not always because of that.”

Sutton: “Can you prove that?”

Ladyman: “Well, there could only be one reason why a bloke who is paid to score goals, whose career, wages, transfer fees are all based on his ability to score goals, doesn’t take a penalty in a shootout.

“There’s only one reason for that. It’s not because there are five defenders who are better at it than he is. It’s because he doesn’t want to.”

Sutton: “But there are a lot of strikers who don’t take penalties. I am amazed by that. For example, up at Celtic, Kyogo Furuhashi scored two goals at the weekend.

“Celtic went 2-0 up at Ross County, getting a penalty. Guess what? He doesn’t take it. The Belgian international Arne Engels takes it but he [Kyogo] is not a penalty taker.”

Ladyman: “I understand that if you are not the best penalty taker at your club but if you are a striker you have got to be one of the first five or else, what are you doing?”

Sutton: “But it’s a specialist art. It’s like American footballers. They have specialist kickers so it doesn’t matter which position [takes them].”

Kyogo Furuhashi’s career penalty record explains spot kick stance

Kyogo has only ever taken three penalties throughout his whole career and has netted two of those.

However, at Celtic, the Japanese striker has taken just one and failed to convert the 12-yard free hit.

• Jun 2, 2018: FC Gifu 4 v 0 Mito HollyHock. Furuhashi netted Gifu’s second goal in the rout of Hollyhock.
• Mar 20, 2021: Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 3 v 4 Vissel Kobe. Kyogo scored Vissel’s second as they battled back from 3-0 down to record an impressive comeback.
• Apr 16, 2023: Kilmarnock 1 v 4 Celtic. The Japan international missed his spot kick when Celtic were 3-1 up.

With just three penalties to his name during his entire career, it’s clear that Kyogo has never been keen on taking penalties which is why the Celtic striker avoids the chance to add to his goal tally from the penalty spot.