BREAKING NEWS: “I gave the Man of the Match award back to him because he deserved it more than I did… He’s the best player I’ve played with up to now,” said Gabriel Magalhaes, who was amazed by his Arsenal teammate’s performance against Tottenham today.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber narrowly avoided a red card during the North London Derby against Tottenham, where his performance at left-back drew attention. Having missed the first two derbies due to injuries during his debut season, Timber was eager to make his mark at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, he quickly became a target for the home fans after a controversial moment.

The key incident occurred during a 50-50 challenge between Timber and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro. Timber appeared to roll his foot over the ball, catching Porro in the process. Referee Jarred Gillett initially showed Timber a yellow card, and the incident was briefly reviewed by VAR to determine if a red card was warranted. After the review, VAR upheld the yellow card decision, allowing Timber to remain on the pitch.

This decision sparked a debate, with former Arsenal star Paul Merson and ex-Tottenham player Jamie Redknapp sharing their views on the controversy. Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp compared the incident to a similar challenge involving Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, who was sent off for a challenge on Yves Bissouma. Redknapp argued that Timber was fortunate to escape a red card, suggesting that the challenge was excessive and unnatural. He added that other referees might have made a different call, potentially sending Timber off.

Merson supported Redknapp’s assessment, agreeing that Timber was lucky. He noted that Gillett had been quick to hand out yellow cards throughout the game, joking that the referee was “giving out yellow cards like ice cream.” Both pundits agreed that the incident was a crucial moment, one that could have changed the game’s outcome had Timber been dismissed.

From Tottenham’s point of view, the decision to let Timber continue playing might be seen as favorable to Arsenal. Meanwhile, Arsenal could feel that Timber’s reprieve was a stroke of luck, especially after Declan Rice’s contentious red card in their previous game against Brighton. In this context, Timber’s incident might seem like a balancing act of decisions that had previously gone against Arsenal.

The Timber controversy will remain a hot topic among fans and pundits, with discussions on whether the decision was correct. It could also provide a morale boost for Arsenal ahead of their important Premier League clash with Manchester City the following weekend.