Substitute Kieran Gibbs’ late equaliser denied Tottenham victory in the north London derby and stole a 1-1 draw for Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
By Lyall Thomas
Harry Kane had given Spurs a deserved first-half lead at Emirates Stadium when he latched onto Danny Rose’s long ball forward, but left-back Gibbs poked home a 77th-minute leveller – his first league goal in more than three years – shortly after replacing Joel Campbell.
The visitors – who move up to fifth – dominated the majority of the game but a point stops their rivals going top of the table after Manchester City’s earlier draw at Aston Villa.
Arsenal – missing the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin through injury – enjoyed more attacking territory in the first 20 minutes but Spurs then took charge and barely let it slip until Gibbs struck in the sides’ 82nd meeting.
Mousa Dembele threatened first when his blocked shot went out for a corner and then Christian Eriksen curled the ball the wrong side of the far post when the set piece was taken short.
But it was Eric Dier who had Spurs’ best chance before Kane’s opener, when he headed an Eriksen free-kick into the side netting unmarked at the far post.
Kane showed his ruthless streak to bag a sixth goal in four games – and a 10th in 13 London derbies – waiting for Petr Cech to commit before burying the ball past him on 32 minutes, Arsenal defenders holding an impromptu inquiry over how he had beaten the offside trap.
The home side did attempt to hit back but created only an offside chance for Mesut Ozil before the break and Kane could have had another when he fired fiercely at Cech from a tight angle.
Hugo Lloris was forced into an excellent save to deny Campbell’s curler towards the far corner just after the interval and Eriksen made Cech dive to beat away his effort moments later.
But Arsenal began to smell danger from set pieces – a weakness for Spurs so far this season – and Olivier Giroud headed a free-kick against the crossbar before steering another header millimetres wide of the far post.
Cech kept the Gunners in the match by denying both Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld again, while Kane dragged a third good effort wide, but Spurs were finally punished for their failure to stop crosses 13 minutes from time.
Gibbs got the better of Kyle Walker and poked an outstretched leg to steer the cross goalwards, and Lloris could not keep the ball out as he collided with the far post.
Arsenal burst into life and looked the more threatening in the final 10 minutes, but Spurs held on to record an identical score to their result at the Emirates last season.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Cech (8); Debuchy (6), Mertesacker (6), Koscielny (7), Monreal (6); Coquelin (7), Cazorla (5); Campbell (6), Ozil (6), Sanchez (7); Giroud (7).
Subs used: Gibbs (8), Arteta (6), Flamini (6).
Tottenham: Lloris (6); Walker (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (7), Rose (6); Alli (8), Dier (8); Dembele (7), Eriksen (7), Lamela (7); Kane (7).
Subs used: Mason (6), Onomah (6), Son (6).
Man of the match: Dele Alli
Source Skysports
