Tottenham and Arsenal always throw up entertainment and their latest Premier League meeting was no different.
Chelsea beat Bournemouth on Saturday where a Premier League record number of 14 yellow cards were dished out.
In truth, that game didn’t have spice to it like the north London derby, the referee just seemed card-happy, just like Jarred Gillett for Arsenal’s narrow win over Tottenham.
In the first half alone, there were many talking points, even though there weren’t any goals, with seven players in total getting booked.
From late tackles to pushing and shoving, or in some cases, soft fouls, the Tottenham and Arsenal players were going into the referee’s book for fun.
But there was one incident involving Jurrien Timber and Pedro Porro that got Ian Wright riled up and he wasn’t happy about it.
Timber was booked for a late tackle on Porro when contesting for a ground ball, with the Arsenal man making contact, but not planting his foot or making a follow-through.
That’s why VAR agreed with the on-field decision that it wasn’t a red card, even though Porro was rolling around in agony.
That’s when Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was booked because he reacted angrily to it and your typical pushing and shoving ensued.
But Wright thinks it wasn’t even a yellow card or a foul as he wasn’t happy with the Tottenham right-back’s actions, as he told Premier League Productions (15/09/24 at 3:00 pm).
The former striker stated that Tottenham’s £39 million man acted ‘very, very poorly’ to the tackle when there was ‘nothing wrong with him’.
Jurrien Timber’s tackle on Pedro Porro
“I don’t even think this is a foul,” said Wright. “Timber gets his foot on the ball. He is trying to do that protecting the ball.
“I think Porro has reacted very, very poorly. There is nothing wrong with him. Nowhere near enough contact for him to be rolling around like he is.
“The goalkeeper (Vicario) from his angle thought he has caught him. But if you look at it, he’s standing on the ball. He’s not kicked him or tried to kick him. Then Porro makes a meal of it.”
Tottenham only have themselves to blame
Arsenal were without Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, two key components to Arteta’s midfield, yet Spurs couldn’t threaten.
Their play in the final third was abject, but the issue here is that is the same old, same old story from the team.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer slams Tottenham player during defeat to Arsenal, questions if he’s a top player
The Timber tackle wasn’t a red and if Spurs fans are moaning at that, then they are ignoring the bigger issues, which is their inability to defend, especially corners and their lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Spurs take on Championship side Coventry City in the League Cup on Wednesday night, with Postecoglou insistent that he wins stuff in his second year, well, time to prove it by progressing in their first domestic competition of the season.
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