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Kirsty Wigglesworth
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Arsenal v Tottenham, Premier League

After a traumatic international break, it was back to club football with the North London derby first up.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick off for the games is at 12.30pm.

We’re under way…

It’s been a composed start for Spurs, who have had the majority of the possession.

Remember, Tottenham have just one win in 16 away games under Mauricio Pochettino against their fellow ‘big-six’ teams, so they are not necessarily favourites despite their excellent recent form.

Encouraging moment for Arsenal.

Dier gives the ball away in a dangerous area, before Lacazette blasts the ball over from the edge of the box.

Tottenham’s turn to attack.

The Arsenal defence fail to deal with a long ball and Kane tests Čech with a powerful strike from a tight angle.

It’s been a very fast-paced, entertaining start to this game, with both sides quite open.

We could be in for a really good game today.

A nervy moment in the Spurs defence, as Vertonghen gives it straight to Ramsey.

Arsenal fail to make the most of it, however, and Tottenham eventually clear their lines.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Arsenal fans watch on. Jonathan Brady Jonathan Brady

Tottenham have a good five-minute spell, with Alli’s shot from the edge of the area blocked.

For all their possession though, Spurs have yet to seriously test Cech.

Big chance for Arsenal.

Bellerín gets in behind Davies, but his cross narrowly eludes the onrushing Lacazette.

Ozil’s cross is blocked out by Sánchez for a corner.

Arsenal are in the ascendancy at the moment.

Davies crosses but Kane can’t quite connect with the header.

Tottenham’s front three have been relatively quiet so far.

Ozil finds space down the right.

Dier does well to intercept the German international’s cross.

Xhaka gets the game’s first booking for a late challenge on Alli.

He had got away with a similar infringement earlier.

Eriksen hits the post in what is Tottenham’s best attacking moment of the game so far.

Moments later, Cech stretches to save Kane’s deflected header.

It’s been a very evenly matched opening half hour.

ARSENAL 1-0 TOTTENHAM (MUSTAFI 36)

A free kick is floated in and an unmarked Mustafi heads the ball brilliantly into the corner of the net.

Tottenham won’t be happy, as it looked a perfectly good challenge by Davinson Sánchez on his namesake Alexis Sánchez in the build up, yet the referee awarded a free kick.

ARSENAL 2-0 TOTTENHAM (SANCHEZ 41)

Lacazette seems to break the offside trap, before squaring it to Sanchez, who blasts the ball home.

Tottenham are well and truly rattled — Arsenal have been much the better team.

Kane beats his man, but drags it wide from the edge of the area.

Looking back on that Arsenal goal, it was very marginal as to whether Lacazette was onside or not.

HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 TOTTENHAM

Half-time and Arsenal deservedly lead against a below-par Tottenham.

The Gunners have been the better side, with Spurs looking a little subdued and not at their sharpest following the international break.

Both goals were arguably offside, though they were very tight calls, while the free kick leading up to the opener was very harsh.

Overall though, the scoreline reflects the hosts’ superiority. Sanchez, Lacazette and Ozil have been lively and influential, whereas the same cannot be said for Spurs’ front three.

Arsenal were very clinical in that first half.

The Gunners had two shots on target, both of which were goals.

The second half has begun…

Mustafi has been booked for a mistimed challenge on Kane.

Tottenham badly need a goal early on to give them any chance of turning this match around.

Kane has now been booked for a clumsy challenge on Xhaka as the latter is shepherding the ball out of play.

Sky Sports’ Thierry Henry says the striker has been “off his game” today and suggests he is not 100% fit following a recent injury.

This game is still very open.

It feels there are more goals to come, with both teams looking dangerous at times.

Kane goes down under a challenge in the box but the ref waves play on.

Moments later, Mustafi does very well to block the England striker’s shot.

Spurs continue to disappoint in the final third.

Cech hasn’t really had a big save to make so far.

Tottenham make a change.

Winks replaces Dembele. The latter has been disappointing and failed to really stamp his influence on midfield.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen (right) battle for the ball. Jonathan Brady Jonathan Brady

Tottenham have looked a little jaded today.

Perhaps their players have been more affected by the international break.

Sanchez gets a sight at goal, but fires it well over.

Arsenal look comfortable at the moment, with Spurs short of ideas.

Lacazette is replaced by Coquelin, as Arsenal look to shut up shop.

Somewhat oddly, a section of the home support boo the substitution.

There are cheers as Kane and Alli are replaced by Son and Llorente.

Both attackers have been well below their best today.

As I type, Lloris smothers a shot from Sanchez.

Spurs have had a lot of the play in front of Arsenal, but have badly struggled to get in behind them.

It’s not the first time they have had much possession but looked toothless in attack against a big side — it was a similar story against Chelsea earlier this season.

Arsenal break. Ozil squares it to Bellerin, whose shot is blocked.

The hosts make another change — Ozil, who has been quite good today, is replaced by Alex Iwobi.

Llorente heads a long ball down to Son, who fires over the bar.

That’s probably been Spurs’ best chance of the second half.

The game is petering out now.

Ozil gets man of the match, with Gary Neville calling him “the best player on the pitch”.

There will be four minutes of injury time…

Arsenal’s Sanchez almost gets a third, after escaping his namesake.

Lloris gets down well to save though.

The ball falls to Son on the edge of the box, but his shot is deflected over.

It’s been all too easy for Cech today.

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 TOTTENHAM

Right, that’s all from me for now.

Thanks for reading and commenting. You can read our report of the game here.

We’ll have more reaction to follow.

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

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