Image Credit: BBC
By Lee Clow
01 September 2019 | Premier League
In an inspired comeback, Arsenal came from 2 goals behind to earn a vital point over biggest rivals Tottenham in a chaotic North London Derby at the Emirates.
Goals from Arsenal’s Lacazette and Aubameyang pulled the game back for the Gunners having found themselves going 2-0 down in the first half. Spurs took the lead within 10 minutes from Christian Eriksen and later made it two when Kane converted from the spot. Right before halftime, Lacazette fired home to give Arsenal hope and after constant pressure in the second half, they soon found the equaliser through Aubameyang. Arsenal looked to have won the game when they scored a third goal but to Spurs’ relief it was ruled out for offside by VAR. As the full-time whistle blew, the spoils were shared between the two great rivals of North London.
From the last game, Arsenal made 3 changes and for the first time this season, Unai Emery started the dangerous attacking trio of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Pepe. For Tottenham, Christian Eriksen was brought back in and Jan Vertonghen was given his first start of the season with Sanchez deputising at right back for the injured Kyle Walker Peters.
The game started as it was to go on with both sides rightfully giving their all in the first North London derby of the season. Tottenham’s game plan was to hit Arsenal on the counterattack and this soon paid off when Spurs caught The Gunners napping at the back. An unmarked Christian Eriksen pounced to give Spurs the lead in the 10th minute after Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno could only push out a shot by Erik Lamela. The goal was met by huge shock from the home fans and huge joy by the away fans.
If Leno was at fault for Spurs' opener, he more than made amends with two saves as the visitors threatened to run riot on the counter. Leno first kept hold of Eriksen's curler on the quarter-hour before producing a sublime fingertip save to tip Son's whipped effort around the post.
Arsenal soon began to grow into the game and Pepe thought he had hauled his side level on 23 minutes when he got on the end of Aubameyang's cross to the back post, but Danny Rose had other ideas, heading the Ivorian's goal-bound header behind for a corner.
5 minutes before the end of the half, Arsenal gifted Spurs a chance to double their lead from the spot when Granit Xhaka needlessly and recklessly challenged Son in the box. The penalty was awarded, and it was Kane who once again took the responsivity from the spot. Kane fired his spot kick home sending Leno the wrong way in the process. Kane’s goal now means he becomes the north London derby's all-time top scorer having scored 10 in iconic fixture.
But just when it seemed Arsenal's worst nightmares were becoming a reality, they pulled one back. Appeals for a Rose handball in the area unsettled the Spurs defence and the Gunners capitalised as Pepe picked out Lacazette, who strode into the area and finished clinically past Lloris at his near post. The goal was huge for Arsenal as it changed the whole momentum of the game going into the second half.
As the second half kicked off, the momentum was clearly on Arsenal’s side as they searched for an equaliser against a Tottenham side who began to sit back. Hugo Lloris, arguably Tottenham’s best player in the game, made two stunning saves throughout the second half keeping his side ahead in the game. On 56 minutes, the Spurs skipper got down low quickly to deny Guendouzi and later denyed a long-range Ceballos shot with a fine acrobatic save.
With Arsenal’s constant pressure in the second half, Tottenham had to faulter eventually and this soon allowed the equaliser to come. Guendouzi was heavily involved once again as he skipped past a couple of players and floated in a brilliant ball over the Spurs defence towards the dangerous Aubameyang, who clinically finished past Lloris. The goal was met by huge cheers from the Arsenal fans who now believed they could turn the game around completely and win.
10 minutes before time, the Emirates erupted in joy as Arsenal appeared to have scored the winner through Sokartis. The Arsenal defender stole a march at the back post to bundle home Kolasinac's cross, but the linesman's decision to rule it out for offside was confirmed by VAR. Boos started circling the ground with the Arsenal fans unhappy on VAR once again benefiting Spurs.
A chaotic game got even more dramatic in the dying few minutes when two penalty incidents were given against Spurs. First Dele Alli appeared to be ‘rugby’ tackled by Ceballos in the box, but this incident was not picked up by the referee or VAR. The second came when Sokratis appeared to bundle Kane over in the area, but referee Atkinson's decided not to award a penalty.
As the full-time whistle blew, the points were shared between the great rivals of North London. Both teams will be disappointed with the result having each had chances to win the game. The bragging rights are yet to be decided with the reverse fixture still to play this season.
After the game Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke to the press about his side’s performance and the situation with wantaway midfielder Eriksen. "We did very well, were very solid and created a lot of chances. In the first half it was a great 45 minutes and I was a little bit ashamed to concede before half-time. We have massive quality and from tomorrow [when the transfer window shuts] we will all be on the same page. With Eriksen we have to wait but it shows it was the right decision to play him. He showed a great performance and helped the team to get a point here."
Unai Emery also spoke after the game and was quick to praise his sides performance as well as the Arsenal fans. "I'm pretty proud of our work. The match was amazing for everyone watching. We played with our heart, sometimes more than our head. We need the balance. We need to be clearer in our mind. We made some mistakes in the first half. But the fans pushed us and helped us, and we deserved to win over the 90 minutes."
What’s next?
The Premier League takes a break next week as the first international fixtures of the season kick off. Majority of the players will join up with their countries as they look to progress in respective competitions.
Tottenham’s next game after the international break is a home fixture against Crystal Palace while Arsenal face Watford away at Vicarage Road.
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