Arsenal 1-1 Spurs: Player ratings, match report and game highlights [VIDEO]
Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Barclays Premier League as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham in Sunday's north London derby at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners – thumped 5-1 at Bayern Munich in their midweek Champions League tie – had to come from […]
Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Barclays Premier League as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham in Sunday's north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners – thumped 5-1 at Bayern Munich in their midweek Champions League tie – had to come from behind after Harry Kane fired the industrious visitors into a deserved first-half lead.
Substitute Kieran Gibbs bundled in a first league goal since March 2012 on 77 minutes to set up a grandstand finale.
However, Arsene Wenger's side – missing the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hector Bellerin, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck through injury – could not conjure a winner, so remained level with Manchester City, who earlier drew 0-0 at Aston Villa.
It was an electric opening to the 82nd north London derby, with both sides quick on the break but lacking a telling pass in the final third.
Spurs created the first real opening when a deep free-kick from Christian Eriksen floated over to the back post, where Eric Dier sent his angled header wide.
Kane fired the visitors in front on 32 minutes.
Full-back Danny Rose chipped a long ball over the Arsenal defense, with Per Mertesacker caught up field and Laurent Koscielny trying to play offside, which released Kane into the Arsenal penalty area.
The England forward, who scored against Anderlecht in Thursday's Europa League tie, dipped his shoulder before curling a low effort past Petr Cech into the bottom-right corner.
Arsenal – who had won their last five Premier League games – looked to produce a response, but were again frustrated in the final third as the visitors comfortably closed out the first half.
Wenger made a change for the restart, with Mathieu Flamini – who scored twice in the Capital One Cup victory at Spurs earlier this term – replacing Santi Cazorla in midfield.
Arsenal were close to an equaliser when Joel Campbell cut in from the right and curled a low effort towards the far corner, which Hugo Lloris got down at full stretch to turn away.
Spurs then came within inches of doubling their lead when Eriksen darted into the right side of the Arsenal penalty area and his angled shot was deflected off Flamini and drifted across the face of goal, dropping just past the far post.
Arsenal hit the crossbar on 54 minutes after Mesut Ozil sent over a deep free-kick from the right and Olivier Giroud just could not keep his looping header down.
The France forward then glanced a free header wide from six yards following Ozil's corner.
Spurs weathered the storm and were soon back in the ascendancy, as Cech beat away a bullet header from Toby Alderweireld at point-blank range.
Wenger sent on Gibbs, replacing Campbell, and the defender – pushed onto the left flank – pulled Arsenal level on 77 minutes.
Ozil swung over a deep ball from the right, which floated across the Spurs area and Gibbs arrived on queue at the far post to volley past Lloris, as the goalkeeper fell back into the net.
Arsenal had the momentum now, with Giroud forcing another smart reaction save from the under-siege France goalkeeper, but Spurs held out for a deserved point.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
“This is Arsenal's worst, least passionate, tactically clueless performance I can remember in a NLD. And it's going to cost me B£5k. £afc” – Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) was fearing the worst when Arsenal were 1-0 down
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal –
Petr Cech: 7/10
Mathieu Debuchy: 6
Per Mertesacker: 5
Laurent Koscielny: 5
Nacho Monreal: 5
Francis Coquelin: 6
Santi Cazorla: 5
Joel Campbell: 6
Mesut Ozil: 6
Alexis Sanchez: 6
Olivier Giroud: 5
Substitutes –
Mathieu Flamini: 6
Kieran Gibbs: 7
Mikel Arteta: 6
Tottenham –
Hugo Lloris: 7
Kyle Walker: 6
Toby Alderweireld: 7
Jan Vertonghen: 6
Danny Rose: 7
Eric Dier: 6
Dele Alli: 7
Erik Lamela: 7
Mousa Dembele: 6
Christian Eriksen: 7
Harry Kane: 7
Substitutes –
Son Heung-min: 6
Ryan Mason: 5
Josh Onomah: 5
STAR PLAYER
Harry Kane: Continued his return to form with a well-taken opener. Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Dele Alli could have all challenged the England man for star player but his unerring finish is deserving of the accolade.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Kieran Gibbs had failed to score a Premier League goal in over three years but he provided a largely undeserved equaliser as he bundled home Mesut Ozil's cross at the back post just moments after coming off the bench.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Arsene Wenger was hamstrung by the sheer number of injuries, naming 10 of the side battered in Munich. Lack of options on the bench too, but in Kieran Gibbs he at least made a substitution that worked for his side. Mauricio Pochettino will see this as two points dropped as his side responded well to a third game in six days.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
A north London derby with only one booking? Always nice to see a bit of blood and thunder in these meetings but it is less and less about the commitment in such fixtures.
WHO'S UP NEXT?
West Brom v Arsenal, November 21 (Premier League)
Tottenham v West Ham, November 22 (Premier League)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was satisfied with the result despite failing to take full advantage of Manchester City's draw earlier in the day.
Wenger told Sky Sports: “It was a very intense game. In the second half we made a great mental response. We were determined not to lose
“In the end I believe a 1-1 is a fair result.
“I must give credit to my players to refuse to lose the game.”
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino also praised his side's efforts at the Emirates. He said: “I think that we played very well. At 1-0 up was the moment that we had the chance to score again.
“I need to congratulate the players because today we showed great character. You need character and clear ideas. It was an unbelievable effort by the players.”
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli said: “I think the boys will be disappointed. That shows how well we are doing at the minute to come away to Arsenal and be disappointed with a 1-1 draw.
“It's been a really good start to the season for us.”
