Jurrien Timber avoided a red card in Arsenal's victory over Tottenham because Jarred Gillett played it 'safe', according to a former Premier League referee. 

Tottenham fans were left fuming after the Arsenal defender put in a crunching challenge on Pedro Porro inside the first-half. 

Timber caught his opponent on the ankle with his studs, after he went over the ball in a tackle reminiscent to that to the one that saw Curtis Jones sent off after the Liverpool man caught Tottenham's Yves Bissouma last season.

On this occasion, Gillett deemed the incident was only worthy of a yellow card - the same opinion of VAR official Stuart Attwell. 

Former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey, told The Sun that Gillett 'took the safe bet' with his decision.

He said: 'I think perhaps the referee just took the safe bet and issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge.

'Now, listen, when we look at Law 12 (misconduct) a careless challenge is a free kick and no card, OK? A reckless challenge is a free kick and a yellow card.

'And a challenge that endangers the player's safety with excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned with a red card.

'Now, it's subjective, but for me, I thought they got it absolutely spot on.

'I thought it was a reckless challenge, free kick and a yellow card. I didn't think it met the criteria of a serious foul play. VAR looks at those challenges and they stayed with the on-field decision, which was correct.'

Following the challenge, Porro's team-mates reacted angrily in response, with pushing and shoving between players from both sides. 

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was booked for instigating the melee, though many felt Timber should have been shown a second yellow card after he grabbed the 'keeper in response.

When asked if Timber should have received a second yellow, Halsey said the Arsenal star was 'putting his hands up to try and protect himself' and shouldn't have received another booking as he 'wasn't the aggressor'. 

There were some questions of inconsistency given Jones' sending off against Tottenham last season.  

'There was one here last season with Curtis Jones where he tried to do the same thing,' Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.

'But he (Jones) didn't quite put his foot on the ball, he went over the top. That one ended up being a red card, which is the big difference between the two.'

Arsenal went on to take the victory in the north London derby after Gabriel scored the only goal of the game.