Emerson Royal sent off in North London Derby for stupid challenge

Emerson Royal was heavily criticised, after his red card in the north London derby handed Arsenal the chance to grab a relatively easy three points.

Royal is going to find himself very welcome in the kind of areas and pubs of north London that he'd usually be run out of, after his terrible decision making on Saturday afternoon.

The game was pretty well placed in the second half, with Arsenal leading Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, after Hugo Lloris' blunder had handed Gabriel Jesus a goal.

Things got even easier for Mikel Arteta's side just past the hour mark however, as Royal was given his marching orders for the challenge on Martinelli.

The Brazilian attacker was in his own half, only running deeper into it and not towards the Spurs goal, when Royal ran over to make a challenge.

Martinelli was well past the defender, who could only drag his studs down the attacker's leg, leaving referee Anthony Taylor with no choice but to show a red card.

Tensions flare in north London as things go from bad to worse for Tottenham...

Emerson Royal sees a straight red for this challenge on Martinelli! 😲 pic.twitter.com/rXz1AVLgDx

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 1, 2022

🟥 Emerson Royal expulso após falta agressiva em Gabriel Martinelli 🇧🇷

pic.twitter.com/sUFbvrnubH

— Penta 🇧🇷 (@Selecaoinfo) October 1, 2022

Despite many believing the former Barcelona defender had no one else to blame but himself for the red card, others felt that it shouldn't have been a sending off.

"It’s a yellow no more," one fan commented, "Considering referee Taylor hasn’t given a card all game including a very obvious shirt pull by odegaard in the first half very strange."

"Football is finished, commentators calling it a shocking tackle as well, embarrassing," a second added.

A third was willing to buy into it all being a large conspiracy against Antonio Conte's side, or possibly just mocking Arsenal fans for usually thinking that about their own side, saying, "Worldwide and universal anti Tottenham conspiracy . Pretty sure that's the line."

Another was very annoyed with football no longer being a contact sport, adding, "Football is ridiculous at times a tap on the ankle is now a red card unbelievable, yes was lazy but how is that a red its a chuffing contact sport."

Have no sympathy for Royal for a brainless foul when Martinelli was boxed in but that is not a red card. Weird how the commentators are in agreement that it’s an obvious dismissal. Definite yellow. VAR sleeping again.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 1, 2022

Things didn't improve for Spurs after the red card, with Granit Xhaka considering his renaissance by scoring the hosts third of the game just five minutes later.

Arsenal had started the game in the ascendancy and took the lead through Thomas Partey's smashed finished from outside the area in the 20th minute.

The visitors worked their way back into the game and got level after Gabriel stupidly tripped Richarlison in the box, with Harry Kane converting from the spot.

After going into the break at 1-1, things unraveled quickly for Conte's side, with Jesus' goal and the sending off making things instantly difficult.

Ironically, reports of Emerson spending nearly £1 million to improve his Spurs' form recently was of course being talked about before kick off, he may need to spend some more.