In a match full of tension, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber narrowly avoided a red card in their victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
According to a former Premier League referee, Jarred Gillett’s decision to issue just a yellow card was a cautious move.
The Crunching Tackle
Tottenham fans were incensed after Timber’s forceful challenge on Pedro Porro in the first half.
The Arsenal defender’s studs caught Porro’s ankle in a tackle that drew comparisons to Curtis Jones’ red card from last season.
Jones was dismissed for a similar tackle on Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, where his studs went over the ball.
Referee’s Call and VAR’s Role
Gillett and VAR official Stuart Attwell decided the challenge warranted only a yellow card, despite its severity.
Mark Halsey, a former Premier League referee, shared his thoughts with The Sun.
He believed Gillett played it ‘safe’ by issuing a yellow card instead of a red.
Halsey explained, “When assessing Law 12 (misconduct), a careless challenge results in a free kick without a card, a reckless challenge calls for a yellow card, and a challenge that endangers safety with excessive force demands a red card.”
According to Halsey, Timber’s challenge was indeed reckless but did not meet the threshold for a red card. VAR’s confirmation of the on-field decision, he added, was spot on.
Post-Challenge Reactions
The challenge led to a chaotic scene with players from both teams involved in pushing and shoving.
Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, received a yellow card for inciting the confrontation.
There was some debate about whether Timber should have been booked again for his reaction, where he grabbed Vicario.
Halsey defended Timber’s actions, saying he was merely trying to protect himself and was not the aggressor.
Comparison with Curtis Jones’ Red Card
The inconsistency between Timber’s and Curtis Jones’ tackles was noted by many.
Gary Neville discussed the issue on Sky Sports, pointing out that Jones’ tackle was similarly reckless but resulted in a red card due to the nature of his challenge.
Match Outcome
Despite the controversy, Arsenal secured a 1-0 win in the north London derby with Gabriel scoring the decisive goal.
So, what’s next for these teams as the season progresses?