Andre Villas-Boas has said that Emmanuel Adebayor's red card was justified in Tottenham Hotspur's 5-2 loss at Arsenal.

Adebayor was shown a straight red for a high challenge on Santi Cazorla, seven minutes after putting Spurs ahead.

The Tottenham boss told Sky Sports News: "I think the sending-off determined the game, but the referee made the right decision.

"Players want to dispute the ball, there was no intention to do any harm.

"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."

Adebayor spent three years at Arsenal before signing for Manchester City, and then joining Spurs.