Jurrien Timber breaks silence on Guglielmo Vicario Tottenham vs Arsenal spat amid red card debate

Arsenal have already received two red cards this season - both for second yellows for kicking the ball away - but it could have been more.

Riccardo Calafiori was lucky not to be sent off for a second yellow card foul on Facundo Buonanotte in the win over Leicester City at the weekend. And Jurrien Timber was at the centre of a controversial call during the North London Derby with Tottenham.

Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have been the unlucky ones to receive their marching orders early already this season, with both red cards arguably costing Arsenal two points in each game with Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

In between those two matches was the North London Derby, and there were question marks over a Timber incident that occurred in the first half.

The Arsenal defender put his studs on the top of the ball in a challenge with Pedro Porro, before then going in high into the Tottenham man's leg as a result. The referee and the VAR deemed it a yellow card foul, with his touch on the ball and lack of intent saving him.

But there was another incident in the aftermath that could have led to a second yellow card. The Spurs players were not happy with the foul and surrounded Timber, with Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario squaring up to the Dutchman.

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Timber grabbed Vicario by the scruff of the neck as they were in heated conversation on the pitch and after the melee died down, Vicario was booked. Timber was not shown a second yellow and stayed on the pitch.

Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League game with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Timber was on press conference duty and was asked about his set to with Vicario.

He said: "It was my first [North London Derby], so I felt the tension and the importance of winning that game. It was lovely playing it and winning it, that was the most important thing.

"It got a bit hectic in that moment [with Vicario], but in the end it was a really nice day."