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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Arsenal v Tottenham, Premier League

It was derby day in North London and we followed all the early-afternoon action from the Emirates.

Good morning and welcome along to our first Premier League liveblog of a busy day of top-flight action.

There are five fixtures in all, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and champions Leicester all in action throughout the afternoon.

We start with the much-anticipated North London derby at the Emirates, where Arsenal can regain top spot with victory over their bitter rivals.

Kick-off is at noon and we’ll have all the team news and build-up right here.

The teams are in — and the big news is that Harry Kane starts for Tottenham while Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin have shaken off knocks to be included in Arsenal’s XI.

So after the midweek victory over Ludogorets, Arsene Wenger has returned to his strongest suit.

Theo Walcott returns to the side after a hamstring injury while Granit Xhaka is back after serving his suspension. Alexis Sanchez starts up front on his own, with Olivier Giroud held in reserve.

While Tottenham have been boosted by the return of Harry Kane, Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Dele Alli misses out through injury. The England international is currently nursing a knee complaint and could be out for a ‘few weeks’, according to his manager.

Crisp Sunday morning in North London as fans begin to file into the Emirates Stadium. Kick-off is just 15 minutes away.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Adam Davy Adam Davy

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Lets take a quick look at today’s other games:

  • Hull City v Southampton (2.15pm)
  • Liverpool v Watford (2.15pm)
  • Swansea City v Manchester United (3pm)
  • Leicester City v West Brom (4.30pm)

Kick-off! Arsenal get us underway. Crackling atmosphere inside the Emirates.

Chance! Bright start from Spurs. Son sells the dummy to Mustafi and he races in behind the Arsenal defence. Kane is in the middle, and pulls away from his marker but the ball across is just ahead of the striker.

Yellow! First card of the day is shown to Kevin Wimmer, who goes into the book for a late tackle on Coquelin.

As is so often the case in these fixtures, it has been a scrappy start with both sides guilty of giving possession away cheaply.

The players observe a minute’s silence before kick-off.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Adam Davy Adam Davy

Frenetic pace to the opening exchanges. Both sides going at it and looking to gain some sort of initiative early doors.

Tottenham just a little guilty of trying to force it with Dier over-hitting an attempted cross-field pass.

Tottenham beginning to get their foot on the ball, although Arsenal look very dangerously every time they venture forward. The left-hand side is proving to be their most likely avenue of attack so far with Monreal bombing forward with every opportunity.

Crunching tackle from Coquelin on Rose there has the Arsenal fans off their feet.

It remains 0-0 after 20 minutes.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Close! Eriksen’s low cross is met by Kane but his diving header goes narrowly wide of Cech’s post. That was the closest we’ve come to the breakthrough.

Not a lot happening at the moment. Tottenham are making it very difficult for Arsenal to find any space around the area and the hosts are just trying to force it at the minute.

A little better from Arsenal in the last 10 minutes or so but Arsene Wenger cuts a frustrated figure on the touchline. The Frenchman does not look best pleased as he stands in his technical area.

Best chance of the day for Arsenal as Sanchez links up with Ozil, but the latter’s first-time effort isn’t hit cleanly and it goes wide.

Chance! That was glorious from the hosts but Iwobi wasn’t able to match the build-up with the finish. After Tottenham sprung forward, Arsenal caught them on the break with Sanchez playing Iwobi in but his effort is weak and straight at Lloris.

Arsenal getting closer and closer. Tottenham are just struggling to cope with the pace and movement having largely nullified the threat in the first quarter of the game. Ten minutes to go until the break.

Harry Kane saw his early header go inches wide.

Britain Soccer Premier League Kirsty Wigglesworth Kirsty Wigglesworth

As we have an brief stoppage in play at the Emirates, it’s a good chance to remind you that we have live coverage of today’s Cup finals from the Aviva Stadium.

Emma Hansberry and Siobhan Killeen Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

First up, Wexford Youths and Shelbourne Ladies do battle for the Women’s FAI Cup, with Paul Fennessy bringing you all the action here.

Off the bar! What a strike from Walcott! The England international crashes a thunderbolt off the bar as the frame of the goal comes to Tottenham’s rescue. Ozil was unable to sort his feet out and get over the rebound with Lloris helpless.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham (Wimmer own goal)

The pressure has paid off as Wimmer heads past Lloris from Ozil’s free-kick. The Spurs defender is running back towards his own goal and all he manages to do is direct it into the corner.

You can’t say that wasn’t coming. Arsenal have just stepped things up in the last 15 minutes and were knocking on the door. Awful time, and way, for Spurs to concede.

Tensions flaring here now as Walcott goes down under the challenge from Waynama. As the winger lies on the ground, Vertonghen gets involved and Mark Clattenburg is forced to step in and calm things down.

Three minutes of added time.

Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham 

Arsenal are full value for their half-time lead with Wenger’s men coming to life halfway through the first period to cause Tottenham all sorts of problems after a fairly uneventful opening quarter.

Before the breakthrough arrived, the hosts had Spurs stretched and Wimmer’s moment to forget was a goal that was coming.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Teams back out for the second half. Spurs need a big reaction now, and Pochettino doesn’t have many options on a youthful bench.

No changes for either side. A big 45 minutes of football at the Emirates.

PENALTY! Clattenburg points to the spot as Dembele goes down in the area under the challenge from Koscienly.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham (Kane)

And Kane makes no mistake as he puts it down the middle to beat Cech. Tottenham back on level terms.

Terrific run from Dembele to win that penalty and Kane keeps his nerve to level proceedings at the Emirates.

Save! Tottenham have come alive and the complexion of this game has changed. Eriksen forces Cech into a smart stop as he pushes a low drive behind.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Arsenal continue to probe but Tottenham are a real threat every time they pile forward. Dembele has dropped a little deeper and the change has worked with Spurs finding a lot more time and space in Arsenal’s half.

Superb defending from Monreal to deny Kane. Rose fires it across and it appears the striker has a simple task at the back post but the Arsenal defender gets back and just does enough to deny Kane. Half an hour to go and this one could go either way.

Close! Iwobi swings in a delightful in-swinging ball and Xhaha is just unable to get on the end of it, although Lloris is forced to push it behind in any case.

Ramsey and Giroud appear to be preparing themselves on the touchline below. The former is the first to take off the tracksuit top. Eriksen, meanwhile, tries his luck from range but it was always rising over.

Ramsey on for Coquelin. You’d imagine Xhaha will drop deeper into that position just in front of the back four. Arsenal asking questions of Spurs again.

Double change for Arsenal. Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Iwobi and Walcott.

Tottenham now making their first change as Kane is withdrawn for Janssen. At the other end, Ramsey is involved straight away but his volley rises over the bar.

Dier goes into the book for a forceful challenge as Arsenal go in search of a winner. Still plenty of time — 17 minutes — remaining but there is certainly an urgency about the hosts at the moment.

Chance! Arsenal getting closer. Bellerin finds himself in acres of space inside the Spurs area but is unable to beat Lloris from a tight angle.

We’re in for a thrilling finish here with the North London derby in the balance. Arsenal looking more likely to find a winner but Spurs have posed a threat throughout this half.

A hint of desperation from Ramsey there. He unleashes from 30 yards out and his effort is high and wide, with a couple of team-mates letting him know that they were in better positions.

Kyle Walker is back down and is going to have to be replaced with Kieran Trippier in for the final 10 minutes.

Which way do you see it going from here?

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Off the post! Tottenham come within inches of taking the lead. Eriksen’s delivery is delicious and Cech finds himself in no man’s land with the ball coming back off the far post.

Cech, and Arsenal, fortunate to get away with that. Six minutes plus injury time remaining at the Emirates.

Crucial intervention from Vertonghen as Giroud looks set to head Arsenal in-front. Sanchez with the ball in but the Spurs defender times his jump to perfection to nip in ahead of the Arsenal forward.

Arsenal throwing everything at Tottenham as we enter the final minutes.

Final change for Spurs as Son is replaced by Harry Winks.

Five minutes of added time in store. Can Arsenal find the winner?

Close! Sanchez looks for Giroud and finds the French man but his glancing header is straight at his compatriot Lloris.

Full-time! Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham 

The shares are spoiled in North London as Arsenal and Tottenham finish 1-1. Wimmer’s first half own goal was cancelled out by Harry Kane’s penalty shortly after the interval.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Thanks for joining us, but don’t forget you can catch live coverage of Man United and Liverpool in action over here.

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