FOOTBALL Live

Saturday October 31, 2009 Finished Emirates Stadium

3 - 0

Arsenal

  • van Persie 42’, 60’
  • Fábregas 43’

Tottenham Hotspur

593 comments | Write your comment

  1. Arsenal take derby spoils

    Arsenal take derby spoils

    Arsenal won the 145th North London derby with a comfortable 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • 90+5' The final whistle goes, and it's an emphatic home vistory for the Gunners. That makes it a full decade since Spurs last beat them in the league.
    • 90+4' Bassong is able to walk off the field with the Spurs physio, and for the second game in a row they finish with 10 men.
    • 90+3' Arsenal launch a late counter-attack and Song pings it forward to Ramsey. Bassong gives chase but then pulls up without being touched, a worrying sign.
    • 90+2' Almunia come sout to meet Bentley's cross and punch it clear. Sagna finishes off the job.
    • 90+1' Vermaelen fouls Pavlyuchenko on the right. Can Spurs finish on a high?
    • 89' Young Aaron Ramsey has a pop from distance, but his strike loops off a Spurs player and into Gomes's arms.
    • 87' Bale cuts a ball back to Crouch, who has the ball in the net, but Bale was offside.
    • 86' Alan Hutton replaces Vedran Corluka for Spurs, while Aaron Ramsey will come on for Robin van Persie.
    • 85' Pavlyuchenko finds Crouch with a cross from deep. The England man's looped effort is easily caught by Almunia.
    • 83' Diaby loses his marker and steams in to meet the corner... he knocks it wide, with his shoulder!
    • 82' Corluka heads Clichy's cross behind fro another Arsenal corner.
    • 80' Gallas and Vermae4len come up again for an Arsenal free-kcik. Fabregas curls the ball for Eduardo to head, but it's right at Gomes. Eduardo could have had a hat-trick this afternoon.
    • 78' Arshavin, who in all honesty has been below par today, is replaced by Eboue for the final 12 minutes or so of this match.
    • 78' Vermaelen goes into the referee's book for a firm challenge on Corluka.
    • 76' Crouch's flick-on is tidied up by Clichy.
    • 74' Palacios finds Bentley out wide, and the winger curls a ball to Crouch at the far post, but the header is an easy catch for Almunia. That may be the first time today that a Bentley cross has met Crouch's head.
    • 73' Arsenal are firmly in the driving seat, with everything going through Fabregas. Vermaelen tackles Bentley on the wing and brings the ball forward! The attack loses momentum and Spurs come forward.
    • 72' Arshavin tries and fails twice to lip a ball through for a team-mate.
    • 71' The home fans are given the chance to shout 'Ole' as Arsenal string a dozen or so passes together.
    • 70' Gallas comes forward as Fabregas preapres to take a corner. Gomes plucks it out of the air, but there is no impetus from Spurs to break quickly.
    • 69' Corluka's cross is over the head of Pavlyuchenko, who is yet to have a meaningful touch.
    • 67' Eduardo is all alone and onside! The striker hesitates as he goes to chip Gomes but then shoots low, and the shot trickles past the post! Gomes did well with his positioning there, but Eduardo should have scored one way or the other.
    • 66' Ledley King slides in to block a pass, but it breaks for Arshavin. The Russian tries to find a team-mate with a backheel butKing is there the clear.
    • 65' Keane is replaced by Roman Pavlyuchenko for Spurs.
    • 65' Assou-Ekotto intercepts Sagna's pass down the left for van Persie.
    • 63' Jenas slips a the through to Keane who fires on the turn, but the Irishman was offside. Bentley was in acres of space on the right there too.
    • 62' Peter Crouch gets the games first yellow card for throwing the ball away as he protested against a foul.
    • 61' Surely there is no way back for Tottenham now. Any vain hopes of salvaging a pointhave surely vanished.
    • 60' GOAL!! Song finds Sagna out wide. Bassong fouls Eduardo but the referee waves play on. Everybody stops except Sagna, whose cross evades Gomes and van Persie has the simplest of finishes to make it 3-0.
    • 59' Bentley's corner is repelled but Spurs keep the pressure on.
    • 58' Bale steps over the ball and it will be BENTLEY TO STRIKE... Tipped over the bar from Almunia!
    • 57' Gallas goes up for a header against Crouch on the edge of the box and handles it. Not intentional, but his hands were up. Perhaps Bale can make an instant impact...
    • 55' Meanwhile, Gareth Bale comes on for Huddlestone. The young Welshman looks as though he will go wide left, with Bentley dropping back to the right wing. Eduardo has his mouth looked at by the Arsenal physio and will continue.
    • 55' Eduardo is crouched down and looks in some discomfort.
    • 54' Crouch flicks the ball on and Keane runs in... Gallas hooks it clear but it rebounds of Sagna! fortunately for Arsenal, the ball runs kindly to Almunia.
    • 53' Spurs are beaten by the ball over the top and Eduardo is odds on to score here... Gomes is quick off his line and spreads himself well to block the shot!
    • 52' Gallas once more gets the better of Crouch as his clearance deflects off the big striker for a throw-in.
    • 51' King heads away van Persie's cross, but Arsenal retain possession.
    • 50' Van Persie fires a low ball across the face of goal that runs to the far post for DIABY... Blocked en route to goal by Bassong! So nearly 3-0 for Arsenal!
    • 49' Corluka has to hack the ball into the stands under pressure from Eduardo.
    • 48' Van Persie flicks the ball on for Eduardo, but Bassong and Assou-Ekotto tidy up.
    • 47' Bright start from Spurs. Huddlestone finds Bentley but the former Arsenal man struggles to control with the ball running just behind him.
    • 46' Spurs kick off and the second half is underway!
    • 45+3' Half time is called, and Arsenal go into the break two goals to the good. They have recent previous in losing two-goal leads, but the manner in which they went ahead will be what rocked Spurs the most.
    • 45+2' Song beats Assou-Ekotto, but the left-back recovers to make the tackle as the midfielder was threatening to charge forward.
    • 45+1' Fabregas takes a corner for Arsenal that Gomes punches clear.
    • 45' Chants of "Who are ya?" ring around the Emirates now. One goal before half time was a big blow for Spurs, but is that second too just too much for them now?
    • 43' GOAL!! Palacios gifts Arsenal possession from the kick-off and Fabregas bursts forward to fire a low finish past Gomes!! All Tottenham's good work throughout the half undone in less than a minute!
    • 43' GOAL!! Sagna has time to swing in a cross and van Persie gets in front of King to steer the ball underneath Gomes!
    • 42' Eduardo has slotted in nicely for the Gunners since coming on, and he wins a throw.
    • 41' Palacios is penalised for a soft foul on Fabregas, and Arsenal look for the quick break. Bassong is the man to snuff it out.
    • 40' Assou-Ekotto fires a free-kick from the halfway line upfield. Once again, Gallas gets the better of Crouch.
    • 39' Sagna has time out wide and slips a ball towards the far psot that van Persie tries to shoot first time on the turn, but can't connect.
    • 37' Bendtner is replaced by Eduardo beofre the corner, which is caught well by Gomes.
    • 36' Arshavin charges forward past two men and pulls the trigger on the edge of the area... Corluka slides in to deflect it over!
    • 35' Play still carries on, and goes back and fourth between the two sides. Palacios slides a great ball through to Corluka who crosses for CROUCH... Vermaelen slides in to intercept and the ball loops high into the air... Almunia catches.
    • 34' Bendtner is hobbling and wants to come off. Spurs take the goal kick, so Arsenal are effectively down to 10 men for the time being.
    • 33' The Gunners retain possession though, and are probing around the Spurs area with real intent. The ball eventually goes out for a goal kick.
    • 32' Van Persie finds Sagna on the right, but again the final ball is lacking. Arsenal have a throw in the final third. Palacios marshalls Arshavin well and Spurs keep Arsenal at bay for now.
    • 31' Bentley floats in a free-kick from midfield, but it's repelled easily enough by the Gunners' defence.
    • 30' Half an hour gone, and Harry Redknapp would probably be the more satisfied of the two managers. Arsenal have been limited to only a couple of decent chances.
    • 29' Arshavin drops deep on the right to slip a ball up for Sagna to chase. King blocks the first cross but Spurs can't clear. Bendtner get van Persie in behind but the Dutchman side-foots wide of the near post.
    • 28' Jenas has Crouch and Keane in front of him but cant see an opening. He plays out wide to Crouch who wins the throw. From there Huddlestone floats a ball in for Keane to head, but it's glanced high and wide.
    • 27' Fabregas passes right to Palacios, who finds Jeans. The ball goes out to Bentley but the cross floats right into the hands of Almunia.
    • 26' Song is alert to stick a boot out and intercept a good ball bound for Keane.
    • 25' Bendtner is almost in Corluka's shirt as the Croatian shields the ball from him. Spurs are struggling to get out of their half.
    • 24' Possession so far: Arsenal 63%, Spurs 37%.
    • 22' King beats a man and finds jenas, who spreads the ball out to Bentley. The cross is fumbled by Almunia, but the keeper recovers. A few boos rang out there as Bentley was on the ball. Why?
    • 20' Clichy sets Arshavin on his way. The Russian feeds Fabregas who SHOOTS FIRST TIME... Gomes saves low to his left at full stretch! Bendtner is lurking on the follow-up but the keeper slides in to grab the ball.
    • 19' Crouch nods down to Keane, who breaks into the Arsenal boxx... Great last-ditch tackle from Alex Song! Keane touched the ball last, so Arsenal have a goal kick to boot.
    • 19' Bendtner up-ends Palacios right in front of the referee, who has a word. What's it going to take for the referee to give out a yellow card today?
    • 18' Fabregas tries to find Arshavin with a back heel, but Corluka reacts quickest to deny the Russian the ball.
    • 17' Bassong fouls van Persie on the halfway line.
    • 16' The free-kick is swung in from deep towards Gallas at the far post... headed wide. Crouch may have got the last touch, but it's a goal kick.
    • 15' Assou-Ekotto barges Fabregas over, and kicks the ball away when the referee gives the free-kick. Mark Clattenburg again keeps his cards in his pocket.
    • 15' Keane finds Crouch in the Arsenal box, but the England striker was off balance and miscued his strike under pressure from two defenders.
    • 14' Arsneal break forward and the ball is squared for Arshavin to STRIKE... the shot trickles along to Gomes.
    • 13' The Spurs fans are making themselves heard in the away section of the Emirates, but they haven't had much to sing about thus far.
    • 12' Sagna tries to find van Persie with a ball down the channel, but it's overhit and out for a goal kick.
    • 12' Arshavin finds Bendtner, but the dane had strayed into an offside position.
    • 11' Jenas rides a tackle as he charges forward, but he can't make it past Gallas who covers well.
    • 10' Assou-Ekotto's long ball is flicked on by Crouch for Bentley to try and replicate his long-range stunner from last season on this ground... his left foot doesn't serve him as well as his right did, and the shot sails way over the bar.
    • 8' David Bentley slides in very late on Vermaelen and that deserves a yellow card, but again the referee shows leniency.
    • 8' Arsenal take a sly corner to Arshavin at the near post, but Crouch is alert to the danger and tackles the Russian.
    • 7' Arshavin has options left and right but goes for the shot. King blocks it but Arsenal force a corner.
    • 6' Arsenal are certainly bossing the opening stages. The visitors are yet to have any significant possession.
    • 5' Palacios muscles Arshavin off the ball, but the Russian manages to block Corluka's clearance. More Arsenal pressure leads to a throw-in for them, but Spurs win the ball back.
    • 4' Bentley's ball to the near post is headed away by Sagna and then the former Gunner handballs. Referee Clattenburg gives the free-kick, but leaves his card in his pocket.
    • 3' Alex song plays a wayward ball back towards Almunia and concedes a corner. Early chance for Spurs...
    • 3' Fabregas breaks into the box, but Spurs skipper Robbie Keane tracks back to help shepherd the ball out of play.
    • 2' Arsenal are taking their time, knocking the ball around nicely. They work it to Bendtner who stabs the ball over the bar.
    • 1' Palacios takes less than 20 seconds to commit a foul. Even by his standards, that's impressive.
    • 1' Arsenal kick off and we're underway!
    • 12:43 The players are coming out on to the pitch. There's a lot more than just local bragging rights at stake in this, the 145th North London derby. Which way do you think it will go? Leave your comments below...
    • 12:36 Kick off less than 10 minutes away now. There are 60,000 spectators eagerly anticipating this clash, including England boss Fabio Capello. Wonder if he'll pop up at another ground later this afternoon.
    • 12:35 The Carling Cup quarter-final draw has been made, and both Arsenal and Spurs have trips to Manchester in store: Blackburn v Chelsea; Manchester United v Tottenham; Portsmouth v Aston Villa; Manchester City v Arsenal (mames to be played week commencing 30 November).
    • 12:29 Spurs have not won any trips to a 'Big Four' side in their last 64 attempts, since their 2-1 win at Anfield on August 25, 1993. However, they do have the best away record in the division this season, picking up 10 points from their five matches on the road. A sliver of hope for Spurs fans.
    • 12:27 Wenger has been hitting plenty of milestones recently; he'll hit another today if Arsenal win as he will secure his 1000th Premier League point.
    • 12:25 This match has the potential to be a cracker. Robbie Keane stirred things up nicely in the week by claiming Tottenham had a deeper squad than Arsenal. Take a look at today's benches and draw your own conclusions.
    • 12:22 Arsene Wenger brings Manuel Almunia back into the Arsenal goal ahead of Vito Mannone after two games on the bench. Lukasz Fabianski is injured. In attack, the Gunners are fielding Bendtner, van Persie and Arshavin - the Russian getting his first taste of derby action.
    • 12:20 Spurs captain Ledley King is fit for this game, and there's plenty of height in this Spurs line-up. As well as Peter Crouch starting up front, Harry Redknapp picks both Jermain Jenas and Tom Huddlestone in midfield. It looks like David Bentley will play further up field with Crouch and Keane, rather than out wide.
    • 12:18 The teams are in. Your referee is Mark Clattenburg...
    • 12:18 Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Mannone, Senderos, Nasri, Eduardo, Ramsey, Eboue, Gibbs
    • 12:18 Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone, Palacios, Jenas, Keane, Crouch. Subs: Button, Hutton, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Kranjcar, Woodgate
    • 12:13 On that occasion, Thierry Henry secured a late 1-1 draw at Highbury to peg back fourth-placed Spurs. The Gunners then scored 10 goals in their last three in their last three league games to pip their rivals to that coveted final Champions League spot as Spurs' players, hit by a mystery bug, lost 2-1 to West Ham.
    • 12:11 With Arsenal lying third and Spurs fourth in the table going into this match at the Emirates, this must be the derby with the most riding on it since the season of the infamous 'Lasagnegate' match of 2006.
    • 12:10 In fact, Arsenal are undefeated in their last 19 meetings with Spurs in the league. Spurs' last victory over their local rivals in the top-flight came in November 1999.
    • 12:06 Things have been a bit more one-sided since the inception of the Premier League, though. Arsenal have grabbed 13 wins to Spurs' five of their 34 meetings since then.
    • 12:05 This latest North London derby is the 145th time Arsenal and Tottenham have met in the league. The Gunners have won 59, Spurs on 45 occasions and there have been 40 draws.

  • Summary

    • 67' Eduardo is all alone and onside! The striker hesitates as he goes to chip Gomes but then shoots low, and the shot trickles past the post! Gomes did well with his positioning there, but Eduardo should have scored one way or the other.
    • 60' GOAL!! Song finds Sagna out wide. Bassong fouls Eduardo but the referee waves play on. Everybody stops except Sagna, whose cross evades Gomes and van Persie has the simplest of finishes to make it 3-0.
    • 58' Bale steps over the ball and it will be BENTLEY TO STRIKE... Tipped over the bar from Almunia!
    • 53' Spurs are beaten by the ball over the top and Eduardo is odds on to score here... Gomes is quick off his line and spreads himself well to block the shot!
    • 50' Van Persie fires a low ball across the face of goal that runs to the far post for DIABY... Blocked en route to goal by Bassong! So nearly 3-0 for Arsenal!
    • 43' GOAL!! Palacios gifts Arsenal possession from the kick-off and Fabregas bursts forward to fire a low finish past Gomes!! All Tottenham's good work throughout the half undone in less than a minute!
    • 43' GOAL!! Sagna has time to swing in a cross and van Persie gets in front of King to steer the ball underneath Gomes!
    • 35' Play still carries on, and goes back and fourth between the two sides. Palacios slides a great ball through to Corluka who crosses for CROUCH... Vermaelen slides in to intercept and the ball loops high into the air... Almunia catches.
    • 29' Arshavin drops deep on the right to slip a ball up for Sagna to chase. King blocks the first cross but Spurs can't clear. Bendtner get van Persie in behind but the Dutchman side-foots wide of the near post.
    • 20' Clichy sets Arshavin on his way. The Russian feeds Fabregas who SHOOTS FIRST TIME... Gomes saves low to his left at full stretch! Bendtner is lurking on the follow-up but the keeper slides in to grab the ball.
    • 19' Crouch nods down to Keane, who breaks into the Arsenal boxx... Great last-ditch tackle from Alex Song! Keane touched the ball last, so Arsenal have a goal kick to boot.
    • 12:18 Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Mannone, Senderos, Nasri, Eduardo, Ramsey, Eboue, Gibbs
    • 12:18 Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone, Palacios, Jenas, Keane, Crouch. Subs: Button, Hutton, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Kranjcar, Woodgate

Live Team Line-Up

  • Arsenal

    Manager: Arsène Wenger

    Captain: Cesc Fábregas

    Starting line-up

    • M. Almunia
    • B. Sagna
    • W. Gallas
    • T. Vermaelen Yellow Card
    • G. Clichy
    • A. Song
    • C. Fábregas Goal
    • A. Diaby
    • N. Bendtner Substitution Out (37′)
    • A. Arshavin Substitution Out (78′)
    • R. van Persie Goals×2 Substitution Out (86′)

    Subs

    • S. Nasri
    • E. Eboué Substitution In78′
    • V. Mannone
    • K. Gibbs
    • E. da Silva Substitution In37′
    • A. Ramsey Substitution In86′
    • P. Senderos

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Tottenham Hotspur

    Manager: Harry Redknapp

    Captain: Robbie Keane

    Starting line-up

    • Gomes
    • V. Corluka Substitution Out (86′)
    • L. King
    • S. Bassong
    • B. Assou-Ekotto
    • J. Jenas
    • T. Huddlestone Substitution Out (56′)
    • D. Bentley
    • W. Palacios
    • R. Keane Substitution Out (65′)
    • P. Crouch Yellow Card

    Subs

    • J. Woodgate
    • N. Kranjcar
    • M. Dawson
    • A. Hutton Substitution In86′
    • G. Bale Substitution In56′
    • D. Button
    • R. Pavlyuchenko Substitution In65′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 574 - 593 of 593

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. go go go

    From tom.hawkins4, on Fri 6 Nov 10:57AM

  2. Fabregas score was so fast

    From Muhd Adham, on Fri 6 Nov 4:26AM

  3. Paul, is not about how many english players will played­ its the fact that we out played you and beat you guys­ as well

    From lubov, on Thu 5 Nov 5:05PM

  4. We fielded 8 English "speaking" players??? ­­ being an english premiership team, HOW MANY DID­ YOU?
    Great day for you guys today, nice to hear from­ you guys have very quiet since jan 8 when you were 12­ points clear of man u to fold as usual at the end of­ the season.

    From Paul, on Wed 4 Nov 5:22PM

  5. So many losers on an Arsenal link... Must be nothin gon­ the Spurs site to entertain and hold their small but­ incisive intellects..

    From Paul Devall, on Tue 3 Nov 4:45PM

  6. ~ 580 "12­ points clear of ManU" an­ achievement that Spurs will never even get close to.

    ~­ 579/592 We saw it the first time. We are as dumb as you­ to keep repeating ourselves... Plank.

    From Roleplay Smithy, on Tue 3 Nov 4:31PM

  7. I was in Finsbury Park after the game as well. As well­ as being a Spurs supporter you must be as thick as a­ plank.

    It was scum in white shirts that we saw abusing­ a woman and her kids because they had Arsenal shirts­ on. Luckily the coppers saw and sorted it out. Gooner­ justice would have been a lot tougher.

    What a bunch of­ losers. Old fat cnuts in Spurs shirts picking on­ primary school kids. No wonder you and your club are­ the laughing stock of the Premiership.

    From Invicta, on Tue 3 Nov 4:16PM

  8. up gunners always be on top,when i say we are the­ gunners my friends say is li3

    From ojusamos, on Tue 3 Nov 3:39PM

  9. up gunners always be on top

    From ojusamos, on Tue 3 Nov 3:38PM

  10. up gunners always be on top

    From ojusamos, on Tue 3 Nov 3:38PM

  11. up gunners always be on top

    From ojusamos, on Tue 3 Nov 3:37PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    COYS all the way!
    We don't give a t0ss what you ­ think. Stupid childish minds of Arsenal supporters. I ­ was in Finsbury Park yesterday evening. All Arsenal ­ fans running around singing 3-0 etc... How effin ­ childish and pathetic that your whole lives revolve ­ around football fighting and being a C*** to your wife.

    From lee, on Mon 2 Nov 8:01PM

  13. Well done arsenal..great 4 ye..not so great for­­ england
    Spurs ENGLISH­­ players:Woodgate,King,Lennon,Huddlestone,Defoe,Crouch,D­ ­ awson,Bentley,O'Hara...that is not mentioning­ the­ great youth academy and reserve team­ players..
    Give a­ thumbs up if u think arsenal should­ be deported to La­ Liga or something!!

    From helenhotspur, on Mon 2 Nov 7:10PM

  14. "The final whistle goes, and it's an emphatic­ home vistory for the Gunners. That makes it a full­ decade since Spurs last beat them in the­ league."

    Says it all really. A DECADE... Since­ we lost to the Scummers, but if we want to make excuses­ like the Spurs cretins are doing now, we had Keown and­ Ljundberg sent off....

    Can't beat us at 11­ aside!!!

    From Delberto Gooner, on Mon 2 Nov 2:20PM

  15. #581 - When was the last time you tossers won the­ league? They hadn't even invented colour TV back­ in those far off days 48 (soon to be 49) years­ ago...

    So you won the Carling Cup ONCE recently. And­ it's a decade since you won in the League against­ the Arsenal.

    We've won the league more often, the­ FA Cup more often and the DOuble more often that the­ sad scummers from @#$% Hart Lane.

    Players injured...­ all BIG clubs have bouts of having players out through­ injury but don't whinge all the time.... How many­ more millions will Hawwy Wednapp waste before Levi­ reasons that you can't polish a turn no matter how­ much money you throw at it?

    From Delberto Gooner, on Mon 2 Nov 2:16PM

  16. Awosanya4Arsenal at last arsenal win 3-o. its me that­ arsenal is go to delivered this season. i saw fantastic­ Capitain Fabergas on Sat and ver persie going good­ performance. and will still need more and more effort­ Guners4Lifeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

    From Awosaya, on Mon 2 Nov 12:35PM

  17. this shows the real colours of arsenal and why they are­ in the top 4
    well done gunners keep it up

    From arsenal2die4, on Mon 2 Nov 3:10AM

  18. Claudiu, you fiddle 8 useless english players that will­ never make it far

    From lubov, on Mon 2 Nov 12:06AM

  19. @ainotse

    sucks loosing, doesn't it!? sucks baaaad

    From Claudiu, on Sun 1 Nov 7:45PM

  20. We fielded 8 English "speaking" players??? ­ being an english premiership team, HOW MANY DID YOU????

    From millen2000, on Sun 1 Nov 6:59PM
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