In a game where he played a standout left-back role, Jurrien Timber of Arsenal was lucky to escape being sent off against Tottenham in the North London Derby. In his first season, Timber was determined to make an impression at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after missing the first two derbies due to injuries. However, the home crowd quickly turned their attention toward him.
The aforementioned incident happened during a 50-50 challenge between Pedro Porro of Tottenham and Timber. Timber seemed to catch the Spanish player by rolling his foot over the ball. After initially showing Timber a yellow card, referee Jarred Gillett briefly reviewed the situation to determine whether the challenge called for a red card. But following verification, VAR chose to uphold the yellow card, keeping Timber on the field.
This choice generated discussion, with former Tottenham player Jamie Redknapp and Arsenal legend Paul Merson offering their opinions. Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp compared the situation to one in which Curtis Jones was dismissed for a similar challenge on Yves Bissouma. He stated that he thought Timber was fortunate not to be sent off, implying that the challenge was an unnatural action involving an excessive amount of force. He made it clear that a red card might have been given by other referees.
In agreement with Redknapp’s analysis, Merson pointed out that Timber was lucky, particularly considering the referee had been issuing yellow cards regularly during the game. During the game, Merson made a funny comment about the referee “handing out yellow cards like ice cream.” The incident, according to both pundits, was a turning point that, had Timber been sent off, could have had a big impact on the outcome of the game.
Tottenham might feel wronged by the choice because Timber’s continued availability on the field might be viewed as an Arsenal lucky break. The Gunners, though, may have a different perspective on the matter, particularly in light of their belief that Declan Rice’s red card in their previous game against Brighton was given unfairly. Arsenal may view Timber’s reprieve in this way as a stroke of good fortune that offsets some of their previous poor choices.
Following the game, the Timber incident will definitely be a hot topic of conversation among fans and analysts, with both groups debating whether the call was the right one. Additionally, it improves Arsenal’s position heading into their pivotal Premier League matchup with Manchester City the following weekend. This lucky break could give the team a much-needed boost before one of their toughest obstacles of the year.
