Dimitar Berbatov has slammed Emerson Royal for his ‘stupid’ red-card challenge on Gabriel Martinelli during Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby on Saturday, as he told Premier League Productions (01/10/22 at 2:30 pm).
The former Spurs striker felt that Emerson Royal was ‘annoyed’ Spurs weren’t able to get the ball or touch the ball during a spell of dominance from Arsenal.
Spurs were losing 2-1 and trying to get back into the game, with Antonio Conte also lining up some substitutions, when Emerson went in studs first on Martinelli.
Given that Mikel Arteta’s men were the better team at the point when it was 11 v 11, the tide pushed further towards the home side, with Granit Xhaka adding a third soon after.
That’s when Conte made four changes, but to no avail, as Arsenal won the bragging rights for the first meeting of the 2022/23 season between these bitter rivals.
Whilst Berbatov felt that the red card that was awarded to Emerson was ‘harsh’, he thinks the versatile defender allowed the emotions of the game to get to him.
“They were too shy in the first half, didn’t think too much about chances and just ten men behind the ball,” said Berbatov. “You play Arsenal, with the players that they have. They always find the space. Always going to pass the ball and find an opportunity.
“Then you need to be smarter. You don’t need to get into the emotions. I think the sending-off maybe was a bit harsh.
“But it was because Emerson was getting annoyed. They don’t give the ball. They don’t touch the ball. They were just running behind the ball. Then you want, after that, to kick someone on the pitch, then you need to be clever.
“Sometimes when you aren’t smart enough, then you are going to do stupid things. For me, that’s a stupid challenge. It’s not calculated and the ball is far away – it’s frustration. It’s pure frustration.”
FIRST DEFEAT FOR SPURS
Tottenham were beaten in the Champions League last month, but this is their first defeat of the Premier League campaign and a deserved one.
But this is where their reaction is key, starting with two very tricky away trips next week.
Spurs will travel to Germany to take on the Europa League champions Frankfurt, before facing off against Brighton, who recorded a 3-3 draw at Liverpool on Saturday.
When Graham Potter was in the Brighton dugout, they proved to be tricky customers for Spurs, and they will provide the same threat now that Roberto De Zerbi is in charge.
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