Gabriel Magalhaes expressed his admiration for his Arsenal teammate’s exceptional performance against Tottenham, returning his Man of the Match award, stating, “He deserved it more than me… He’s the best player I’ve ever played with so far.”
During the North London Derby, Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber’s performance stood out, despite a controversial moment that nearly saw him sent off. Playing at left-back, Timber was eager to make an impression, having missed previous derbies due to injury. However, he soon found himself at the center of controversy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a challenge on Pedro Porro.
In a 50-50 challenge, Timber appeared to roll his foot over the ball, catching Porro in the process. Referee Jarred Gillett initially issued a yellow card, but the incident was reviewed by VAR to determine if a red card was warranted. After careful consideration, VAR upheld the yellow card, allowing Timber to remain in the game.
The decision stirred debate among pundits, with Arsenal legend Paul Merson and former Tottenham player Jamie Redknapp weighing in on Sky Sports. Redknapp drew parallels to a similar challenge by Curtis Jones, who had been sent off for a tackle on Yves Bissouma in a previous match. Redknapp argued that Timber was fortunate to avoid a red card, emphasizing that the challenge seemed forceful and unnatural. He noted that other referees might have issued a red card in such a situation.
Merson echoed Redknapp’s view, remarking that Timber was lucky to escape further punishment, especially considering the referee’s willingness to hand out yellow cards throughout the match. He humorously remarked that the official was “handing out yellow cards like ice cream.” Both pundits agreed that Timber’s reprieve was a turning point that could have drastically altered the match had he been sent off.
From Tottenham’s perspective, the decision may feel unjust, as Timber’s continued presence could be seen as fortunate for Arsenal. On the other hand, Arsenal might feel that this stroke of luck balances out past decisions against them, such as Declan Rice’s contentious red card in their previous match against Brighton.
The Timber incident has sparked widespread discussion, with fans and pundits debating whether the decision was correct. It also leaves Arsenal in a stronger position as they look ahead to their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City next weekend.
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