Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas says Emmanuel Adebayor deserved his red in yesterday's 5-2 thrashing at Arsenal.

When pressed on the red card - shown for a studs-up challenge on Santi Cazorla - Villas-Boas had no complaints with it, but also refused to criticise his player.

Insisting the striker had nothing to apologise for, Villas-Boas said: "Ade went into the challenge not to harm Cazorla. Cazorla is quick, he reacted, he took the ball away before Ade's feet met his foot and the ref has to make a decision and he decided for the red card.

"We understand that it could've been any other player on any other day. This is football and challenges like this happen."

The Portuguese also dismissed suggestions Adebayor may have been too wound up against his former club.

"I don't think so," he said. "We make the most out of players' revolts, players' motivations. It's something that we respect.

"I think Ade was in full control of his emotions and in a north London derby you want players to challenge for balls, you want them to win second balls, you want them to be strong, to be brave.

"That's exactly what they did from the first minute to the last."