JURRIEN TIMBER avoided a red card at Tottenham because referee Jarred Gillett played it ‘safe’.
Top former referee Mark Halsey ran the rule over the weekend’s Premier League action exclusively for SunSport.
It’s all kicking off in the North London derby
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It wouldn’t be the North London derby without some boiling tempers and on-pitch drama – and Timber ensured Sunday’s clash was no different in his first game against Spurs.
The former Ajax defender left one on Pedro Porro after a crunching challenge but didn’t hear the whistle that came later.
Timber, 23, caught his Spurs counterpart on the ankle after he went over the ball with his studs, which Gillett deemed a yellow card.
When asked for his take on the incident, Halsey said: “The temperature was rising, the game was reaching boiling point.
“I think perhaps the referee just took the safe bet and issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
“Now, listen, when we look at Law 12 (Misconduct) a careless challenge is a yellow card, okay? A reckless challenge is a free kick and a yellow card.
“And a challenge that endangers the player’s safety with excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned with a red card.
“Now, it’s subjective, but for me, I thought they got it absolutely spot on.
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“I thought it was a reckless challenge, free kick and a yellow card. I didn’t think it met the criteria of a serious foul play.
“VAR looks at those challenges and they stayed with the on-field decision, which was correct.
“I think the fact that he was on top of the ball and then his studs just went into the shin, I think that deemed it a reckless challenge.
“So, listen, on another day, another referee may have just seen it as a careless.”
But the chaos didn’t stop there.
Arsenal ratings vs Spurs as Gabriel is the hero in feisty North London derby
GABRIEL headed in the only goal of the game as a depleted Arsenal snatched all three points in the North London Derby.
Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Gunners players…
DAVID RAYA – 8/10
Commanded his area well, and was a safe pair of hands throughout the game. Another great showing in what has been a spectacular start for the Spanish stopper.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Did well from an attacking perspective, charging down the left hand side on various occasions. Solid defensively too against Spurs’ flying right side of Johnson and Porro.
Some would argue he should’ve been sent off for a challenge on Pedro Porro in the first half, but he escaped despite squaring up to Vicario in the aftermath.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
A really good recovery challenge in the first half to deny Dominic Solanke, despite being booked early on.
You can always count on Saliba to put in a solid display, and he didn’t disappoint today with fantastic passing out from the back too.
GABRIEL – 9
A fantastic defensive showing throughout, reinforced with a towering header inside the box to give his side the lead from a set piece (shock).
Has formed an impeccable partnership with Saliba, personified by their heartwarming celebration together after the opener. He’s the man.
BEN WHITE – 6
Gave away the ball in a dangerous position in the first half, with Solanke failing to capitalise and had a tough first half against the quick feet of Heung Min-Son.
Was not able to demonstrate the dangerous right-hand side overlap we saw work so effectively last season, but wasn’t threatened in the second 45.
JORGINHO – 4
Struggled to replace the suspended Declan Rice for this North London derby, whom the Gunners really missed.
A tough task, but didn’t come close to matching Rice’s intensity or ability to drive the ball up the pitch which left Arsenal weak in the forward areas.
THOMAS PARTEY – 5
Struggled in transition with Jorginho alongside him, another player who felt the full force of no Rice and Odegaard.
Not fast enough with or without the ball, and will need to perk his ideas up for City next week.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Looked like a bright spark with his running and forward movement, but was let down by his end product or lack thereof.
Worked really really hard throughout, just looks short of confidence in the last actions.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Dropping deeper into more of a midfield role than he’s used to today, it should be noted that he did a job for the team when they needed him.
Not the flying efficiency machine we have seen him be from the bench, but his versatility will be needed this season it seems.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Didn’t make the kind of impact on the game we are used to seeing from the brilliant Bukayo Saka, and looked less of a threat without Martin Odegaard to combine with.
Did some really good defensive work nonetheless, and delivered the perfect corner to claim the assist for Gabriel’s opener.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
A good header in the first half was saved well by Vicario in the spurs net – actually made more clearances (3) than he managed shots on target (2) in the first 45.
Was a handful for the Spurs defence, but largely nullified by the pace and power of Mickey Van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Not reacting to the ref’s whistle, Timber continued with the ball at his feet until he reached the byline next to Guglielmo Vicario‘s goal.
Porro’s Tottenham teammates reacted angrily in response and a scuffle broke out between the two teams with plenty of pushing and shoving.
Vicario was then booked for instigating the melee as VAR again checked the aftermath.
On whether Timber should have received a second yellow for the confrontation with Vicario, Halsey said: “We’ve been talking about we don’t want to see too many yellow and red cards.
“And I thought Vicario deserved his yellow card because he adopted aggressive attitude towards the opponent.
“Now, some may be a bit cynical and say Timber perhaps should have got a second yellow card. But not for me because he wasn’t the aggressor.
“He was sort of putting his hands up to try and protect himself. So I thought, again, I thought they handled that well.
“And if there was any other unseen incident, VAR would have picked it up.”
Meanwhile Arsenal players called for a penalty when the ball accidentally struck Cristian Romero‘s arm inside 18 minutes.
Kai Havertz‘ close range header was saved by Vicario with the ball rebounding onto Romero’s arm after the home side started brightly.
Halsey added: Well, it has to be a deliberate act, a deliberate movement of the arm to the ball, and making yourself unnaturally bigger.
“And that handball didn’t meet the criteria. Absolutely, Gillett was spot on, not to give a handball.”
