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Aaron Ramsey and Christian Eriksen. EMPICS Sport
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Tottenham v Arsenal, Premier League

The most significant North London derby in recent memory was the lunchtime kick-off at White Hart Lane.

Good afternoon! Just Leicester City sit above Tottenham and Arsenal, themselves separated by three points in second and third, heading into this afternoon’s Premier League clash so the stakes could hardly be higher.

The first of eight matches today in the English top flight comes from White Hart Lane and we’re about 45 minutes off kick-off.

We’ve got team news…

Mousa Dembele returns to the Spurs line-up after recovering from an injury which saw him miss the last two  games and Dele Alli is also back in the team.

Arsenal, without the injured Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny, start with David Ospina in goal while Brazilian defender Gabriel comes in to partner Per Mertesacker in central defence.

Mohamed Elneny makes his first league start in midfield, while Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott are both on the bench with Welbeck named up front.  

Big call from Wenger.

TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dembele, Dier, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.

 

ARSENAL Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck.

The Gunners have been beaten on their last two league outings, against Manchester United and Swansea, while Tottenham also come into the game on the back of a loss at the hands of fellow Londoners West Ham.

With that in mind, how do you see this one going? 


Poll Results:

Draw (252)
Tottenham win (181)
Arsenal win (117)

It’s a big day for this man. David Ospina deputises for the injured Petr Cech on his first Premier League appearance of the season.

Britain Soccer Champions League Kirsty Wigglesworth Kirsty Wigglesworth

The sides are about to emerge from the tunnel. Spurs striker Harry Kane continues to wear a protective mask, only this week it’s got his number (10) on it. Fancy.

Spurs ARsenal

Everyone’s in place and we’re about to get going.

KICK-OFF – A frantic start to the game. It’s been 100 miles per hour in the first two minutes with plenty of tackles going in.

Spurs take a quick throw-in and Alli finds himself in possession in the Arsenal box. The midfielder attempts to get a shot off but is blocked.

SHOT ON GOAL – Kane gets some space 18 yards out from goal and tries his luck. The sot is straight at Ospina though and the Colombian saves.

Moments later, the same player sees his strike deflected over the bar and out for a Spurs corner.

Eriksen whips one in, and it’s put behind before the second attempt gets headed away.

Francis Coquelin brings down Kane and gets a talking to from referee Michael Oliver. No card brandished just yet.

The home side have begun impressively, they look sharper in possession and are closing down the Arsenal players at every opportunity.

Kane on the end of another late challenge, this time it’s from Kieran Gibbs.

Ramsey is robbed by Rose, who drives into the box and cuts the ball but the full-back can’t find a white shirt. That could have proved costly for Arsenal’s Welsh midfielder.

The early pace of the game hasn’t let up.

CHANCE! Ospina is forced into a great stop from Lamela. Cech would have been proud of a save like that.

Bellerin picks up a yellow card for a foul on Rose minutes later. Eriksen to take, and he curls the ball into Ospina’s hands.

A second yellow card in quick succession. Lamela gets a caution for holding back Bellerin.

Michael Oliver’s card is flashed yet again! This time Coquelin goes into the book for dragging down Dier.

A lot of play taking place in Arsenal’s final third, but no goal to show for Spurs’ dominance.

GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (Aaron Ramsey) 

Super goal. Welbeck cuts the ball back to Bellerin and the full-back opts to pass short to Ramsey when the shot is on. Rather than take a first touch, Ramsey just helps it on with a clever flick to beat Lloris.

Arsenal have a spring in their step since the goal and have created a couple of half chances in the last few minutes.

Half-time: Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal 

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - Barclays Premier League - White Hart Lane Arsenal goalscorer Aaron Ramsey. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

SECOND HALF — Okay, we’re back. Not changes made on wither side during the break.

Kyle Walker advances forward from deep and, with not Arsenal players closing him down, the English defender has a pop at goal. Ospina gets down to save but can’t hold it.

RED CARD! Oh dear… On a yellow card from the first half, Coquelin stupidly dives in on Kane and receives his marching orders.

Arsenal will have to play the final 35 minutes with 10 men.

INCHES AWAY! Kane fires the ball at goal from close range and Ospina gets an arm to keep it out. Replays show a large part but not the whole of the ball, had crossed the line.

GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal (Toby Alderweireld)

We’re all-square! A corner falls to Belgian defender and he makes no mistake. A testing half hour for Arsenal here.

GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (Harry Kane) 

Wow, they’ve gone ahead! Alli does brilliantly to chase down a ball that was running out of play before backheeling to Kane.

From there, the striker brings the ball inside and curls it around Ospina with great technique.

SUBSTITUTION – Minutes after he is involved in a scuffle (and some theatrics) with Alexis, Lamela comes off for Ryan Mason.

Kane gets turned but pulls his shot wide. And it looks like Olivier Giroud is getting ready to enter the fray.

CHANGE – Wenger brings Giroud on as the Gunners chase a goal with Elneny making way.

GOAL! Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez) 

The 10 men of Arsenal are back in this! Bellerin rolls in Sanchez and the Chilean scuffs a shot across Lloris and into the net.

A bit of controversy. Dier, already on a yellow, drags down Giroud… but somehow gets away with it and stays on the pitch. Should be off there.

ANOTHER CHANGE – Dembele off, Son on for Spurs.

Eriksen brings a good save out of Ospina, who tips the effort over the bar.

Then Lloris is called into action to punch a dipping Sanchez free-kick.

Also, Mathieu Flamini has replaced Welbeck.

That would have been embarrassing! Gabriel mis-hits a clearance and every nearly puts the ball into his own net.

Ah here!

BT Down for main

Full-time: Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal 

The biggest North London derby in years and the weekend’s other Premier League talking points

Spurs and West Ham to win and three other Premier League bets to consider this weekend

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