Jamie Redknapp and Paul Merson claim Jurrien Timber is ‘incredibly lucky’ to avoid a red card after Arsenal star’s challenge on Tottenham defender Pedro Porro

Jamie Redknapp  has claimed that Jurrien Timber was ‘incredibly lucky’ to not get sent off during the north London derby. 

During a goalless first half, referee Jarred Gillett was not shy to book players, booking seven players in total in the opening 45 minutes. 

There was a controversial moment when Timber caught Pedro Porro’s ankle after 36 minutes and got in the referee’s book. 

The Dutch defender was cleared of wrongdoing, with VAR claiming that while it was ‘a reckless challenge’, there was ‘no serious foul play’. 

However, Redknapp disagrees and claims Timber should have seen red for using ‘excessive force’ in the tackle. 

The former Spurs and liverpool said on Sky Sports: It’s an unusual actions because he does definitely go over top of the ball, he rolls his foot ,he uses an unusual action you normally come in with the side foot to make a challenge like this but he goes over the top with his studs on it. 

‘His foot then bounces on the ball. With the tackle here last year with Curtis Jones and Bissouma, Curtis Jones ended up getting sent off for that so very similar. He is very very lucky.

‘He has given the referee a massive decision to make I think he’s incredibly lucky because other referees I think might have sent him off. He doesn’t need to go in like that. It’s such a strange one.

‘Has he caught him badly? No. but that’s not the point. It’s the excessive force he has gone in with.’