Jurrien Timber came close to becoming the second Arsenal player to be sent off in consecutive matches during a fiery North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Dutch defender was at the heart of controversy following a tough challenge on Tottenham’s Pedro Porro in the first half of the heated Premier League encounter.
Timber’s forceful tackle on Porro appeared to catch the Tottenham player, igniting an immediate and emotional response from the Spurs squad.
The tackle triggered a confrontation between the two teams, with players from both sides getting involved in a shoving match.
Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, was shown a yellow card for his part in escalating the tension, while Timber was also booked for his challenge on Porro.
The severity of Timber’s foul prompted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the incident, considering whether his yellow card should be upgraded to a red.
However, referee Jarred Gillett stood by his initial decision, classifying the tackle as reckless but not severe enough to warrant a sending-off.
Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville shared his views on the incident, suggesting that Timber avoided a red card because, while his foot did go over the ball, he did not follow through aggressively.
Neville explained that although Timber’s foot landed on the ball during the tackle, the absence of a dangerous follow-through was a key factor in differentiating it from more hazardous challenges.
He referenced a similar incident from the previous season involving Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, who was sent off for a comparable challenge against Tottenham.
Following the game, the Premier League Match Centre confirmed via social media that VAR had thoroughly reviewed Timber’s tackle and agreed with the referee’s decision to maintain the yellow card.
The tackle was acknowledged as reckless, but it did not meet the criteria for serious foul play.
Dean Ashton, speaking on talkSPORT, also supported the decision to keep the yellow card, noting that while Timber made slight contact with Porro, it wasn’t significant enough to justify a red card.
He emphasized that Timber’s foot positioning on the ball played a critical role in the decision.
However, not all pundits were in full agreement.
Football analyst Henry Winter questioned Timber’s technique, asking why the Arsenal defender had raised his foot so high above the ball during the challenge.
Winter suggested that Timber’s challenge could have easily crossed the line into a red card-worthy offense if the circumstances had been slightly different.
The incident drew parallels to a high-profile match in September 2023, when Liverpool’s Curtis Jones was sent off for a similar tackle on Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma.
In that instance, the referee was advised to review the challenge via VAR, and after watching the replay, upgraded the yellow card to a red.
Liverpool’s subsequent appeal to overturn Jones’ red card was unsuccessful.
Adding to the tension, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice had been sent off earlier in the season against Brighton after accumulating two yellow cards, leaving some Tottenham supporters frustrated that Timber was not given the same treatment after committing two fouls during the game.
Aside from the challenge on Porro,Timber had also grabbed Vicario’s shirt later in the match, with the Spurs goalkeeper being booked for his response.
This fierce North London Derby highlighted the fine margins that often define aggressive play and serious foul play in football, sparking debate among fans, pundits, and players well after the match had ended.
