Sunday October 2, 2011 Day 7 Finished White Hart Lane

Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal

  • van der Vaart 40’
  • Walker 73’
  • Ramsey 51’

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  1. Arsenal lose again at Tottenham

    Arsenal lose again at Tottenham

    Arsene Wenger's 15th anniversary as Arsenal manager was marked by a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • Arsenal
    • - Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger condemn the chanting against Emmanuel Adebayor - and Redknapp himself. Managerial reaction
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+6' FULL TIME. Kyle Walker with the winner as Spurs go five points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand.
    • 90+5' A late corner to Arsenal here... Szczesny is up!
    • 90+3' Coquelin cuts out an attempted cross to Defoe. Excellent from the young man.
    • 90+2' Arsenal have sent Mertesacker up front in desperation.
    • 90+1' We will have five minutes of added time.
    • 90' Parker comes off after a brilliant shift in midfield to be replaced by Vedran Corlka.
    • 89' Modric rifles a shot into the side netting as Spurs go in search of a third to kill off the game as a contest. Arsenal don't look like scoring at all.
    • 87' A great effort from Defoe as he tries to lift the ball over Szczesny from a tight angle. His effort soars past the far post though.
    • 85' Change for Spurs as Adebayor departs to an ovation from the Spurs fans and is replaced by Jake Livermore.
    • 84' Bale absolutely races past Jenkinson and cuts back for Defoe, who has the time to try and pick out the far corner, calling Szczesny into a fine save as he tips the ball round the post.
    • 82' Stat from Infostrada: If Arsenal lose today, they have seven pts from seven matches. The last time they had seven or fewer points after 7 top flight matches was in 1974/1975, when they had seven pts, after recalculation according to the three-point-rule.
    • 81' Adebayor looks to have wrestled the ball off Song in the box but the referee blows late for a foul by the Spurs star. He did have his hands all over Song.
    • 80' Benayoun takes the ball across the face of goal but sees his effort blocked.
    • 79' Arshavin usually produces a very mixed bag but he does have the capacity for a flash of genius or two. Let's see if he can swing the game back the way of Arsenal.
    • 77' Gervinho replaced by Andrei Arshavin just before song heads wide from a Van Persie corner.
    • 76' A great chance for Bale! Mertesacker and Song leave a ball over the top to each other and Bale sneaks in before firing a shot wide. That was absolutely despicable defending.
    • 75' Scott Parker goes into the box. I missed why.
    • 73' GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal! An error from Szczesny who has been otherwise excellent. Song blocks an initial attempt from Modric and when the ball pops out to Walker, he takes a touch before unleashing a fierce effort from 30 yards. It had plenty of pace but the keeper should have stopped it.
    • 72' Arsenal are getting Yossi Benayoun ready and he comes on to replace Theo Walcott.
    • 70' Sagna is taken down the tunnel on a stretcher and that doesn't look good for Arsenal.
    • 68' Here is Carl Jenkinson to replace Sagna. That's not promising for the Gunners at all.
    • 67' Ouch. Bacary Sagna lands really nastily on his right ankle and he signals for a substitution. A stretcher is sent down the touchline and he is in real pain. That is a hammer blow for Arsenal. Sagna's departure sparked the collapse at Blackburn.
    • 66' Confusion from a set-piece but when Defoe tries to execute an overhead kick he is penalised for a high boot. Gibbs was attempting to head away.
    • 65' Kaboul embarks on a fine run down the right wing but Mertesacker comes across well to slide in and block the shot behind for a corner.
    • 63' Here is Sandro and he replaces Van der Vaart in midfield.
    • 61' Stat from Infostrada: Aaron Ramsey scores his fifth PL goal. All have been scored in the second half and Arsenal have won all four previous matches where the Welshman scored.
    • 60' Spurs are getting Sandro ready as they look to get more control of the ball in midfield.
    • 58' Great save! Szczesny with a fantastic stop to deny the former Arsenal man Adebayor. The striker waltzed through on goal after being quickly played in by Bale and was denied when the Pole stretched out his right arm.
    • 57' Van Persie gets on the end of a cross from Gibbs but can't flick the ball on target. Ramsey then latches onto a loose ball in the box and fires wide, but he is adjudged offside.
    • 55' Adebayor is just offside when collecting a pass from Parker and he was almost through on goal there with Arsenal defending very high up the pitch.
    • 53' Now Gervinho forces Friedel into a low save at his near post with a dribbling effort. He was never really troubled there.
    • 51' GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal! Ramsey! He had a shocker in the first half but the Welshman exploits some horrid marking to fire home from a cross from Song at the near post.
    • 50' Van Persie sneaks in to collect a loose ball in the box but his flick back doesn't reach Ramsey.
    • 49' Bale showing great intent as he lashes another fine effort just over the bar. Tottenham are enjoying themselves at the moment.
    • 48' Arsenal switch off from a corner, again, but Modric can't punish them. They were guilty of that twice in midweek against Olympiacos as well. That's just basic defending.
    • 47' Bale attempts to wriggle away from Sagna and wins a corner. King almost converts from the set-piece as Arsenal struggle.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - Norseclose says this on Twitter: "Van der Vaart's bicep is not his chest. That was an incredibly clear-cut handball." Ikpono Abasi Utuk adds: "that's obviously a handball or do you need a magician to tell you that?" According to Altin Kaftira: "It was a handball and after that van der vaart should have received a yellow 4 celebrating with the supporters". Have your say on Twitter
    • - Want to get something off your chest after that first half? Did you think it was a handball? Let me know on Twitter. @tomEurosport
    • 45+3' HALF TIME. Van der Vaart has Spurs in front at the break.
    • 45+1' We will have three minutes of added time.
    • 45' Defoe is adjudged offside as he threatens to get on the end of a ball through the heart of the Arsenal defence.
    • 44' Stat from Infostrada: Rafael van der Vaart scores his 4th goal in a North London derby, becoming the highest scoring player for Spurs in this fixture in the PL era.
    • 43' Ramsey with a shot but his effort from range lacks the pace to trouble Friedel.
    • 42' Bale with an outrageous effort! He sends a bending effort towards the top corner from 35 yards but the shot just sneaks wide. Spurs look full of confidence at the moment.
    • 41' There was a suspicion of handball about it when Van der Vaart pulled the ball down but he took it on the upper chest and held off a pretty weak challenge from Sagna to stick it away. Spurs probably deserve to be in front.
    • 40' GOAL! 1-0 Tottenham! Rafa van der Vaart puts Spurs in front and it is a well-taken finish. Adebayor lifts a lovely ball over to the left side of the defence where Van der Vaart controls with his chest and fires a shot back across goal and past Szczesny. Lovely.
    • 38' Reports from journalists in attendance on Twitter that Arsenal fans are targeting Adebayor with songs making reference to the terrorist attack on the Togo team in Angola in 2010. That is a complete disgrace.
    • 37' Ramsey with another loose pass as Arsenal win the ball in the box and look to have opened up the Spurs defence. He has been terrible so far.
    • 36' Coquelin, who has looked decent so far, requires a bit of treatment but appears to be fine to continue. Arsenal don't need yet another injury.
    • 35' Now Walcott drives a shot well over the bar after collecting a pass from Gervinho. Friedel would have been in trouble had it been on target.
    • 34' Coquelin with a superb challenge to win the ball and Ramsey, again, is guilty of a terrible pass when trying to play in Walcott. Van Persie was a better option in any case but the pass was terrible.
    • 33' Van der Vaart strikes the wall with his free-kick as the danger passes for Arsenal.
    • 32' Mertesacker goes into the book when lunging in on Jermain Defoe. That was very ordinary from the Germany international.
    • 30' Bale does well to sprint away from Sagna and then win a corner for Spurs. Arsenal take possession from Van der Vaart's delivery but cannot mount an attack on the break.
    • 29' A huge chance for Arsenal! Van Persie darts away from Kaboul and cuts back for Gervinho, who with the goal opening up in front of him drags his shot wide. That is a terrible effort.
    • 28' Defoe drills in a cross from the left and Van der Vaart escapes his marker before meeting the ball with a flick off the outside of his left boot. Szczesny did well to save but Ramsey just let Van der Vaart run off him. Poor defending.
    • 27' A late, late challenge from Van der Vaart on Gibbs as the Arsenal left-back cleared down the line and it is no surprise to see the yellow card come it. It wasn't malicious but was certainly messy.
    • 25' This hasn't been the most thrilling derby encounter so far, with chances at a premium. Now we have a break in play as Walker requires treatment after taking a knock to the head in an aerial challenge with Van Persie.
    • 24' Walcott is allowed to run 30 yards with the ball and after the pitch opens up he fires in a bouncing low effort that Friedel just about gathers. Not a bad effort from the forward.
    • 23' Arteta tries to shoot from the tightest of angles and it is a horrid effort. That was a waste of a free-kick in a very good position.
    • 22' Coquelin cedes possession with a sloppy pass but recovers the ball well when snapping into a challenge on Modric. Ramsey then finds Van Persie with a searching ball over the top and Kaboul brings him down on the edge of the box. Arteta will cross this into the box...
    • 20' Arteta is looking very assured in possession and after he finds Gervinho, the forward drives at goal before attempting to play in Walcott. However, the England man doesn't anticipate the pass and checks his run.
    • 19' Arteta slips a quick pass to Ramsey and the Wales captain loses possession once more when passing to his international team-mate, Gareth Bale. Van der Vaart meets a cross from the winger but only succeeds in scooping the ball over the bar.
    • 17' Per Mertesacker is in the box but the delivery evades the big German. Arsenal enjoy a decent spell of pressure but Spurs clear again.
    • 16' Theo Walcott finds space in the box and sees his curling effort deflected behind for a corner. Walker heads behind from Arteta's deep delivery and Arsenal win a second corner. Ramsey flicks the ball on and Modric turns it wide at the post. A third corner...
    • 15' Chances have been few or far between in this opening 15 minutes. Surprisingly so, given the compoosition of the two sides.
    • 13' Adebayor is offside as Parker gets a short pass from Modric and attempts to thread a pass through the middle of the park.
    • 12' Arteta slips a pass into Van Persie but he is dispossessed by Younes Kaboul. Nice defending from the Frenchman 20 yards from goal.
    • 11' The free-kick is chipped into Van Persie but he can only turn the ball wide of the post. Friedel never looked concerned there.
    • 10' Parker chops down Arteta with a pretty ugly challenge but there wasn't enough in it to warrant a yellow card. That's good refereeing from Mike Dean.
    • 9' Spurs have settled into a stride and are starting to look a touch menacing. Given Arsenal's persistent defensive problems they should enjoy a few chances today.
    • 7' Save! Wojciech Szczesny stands tall as Scott Parker collects a pass from Van der Vaart and toe-pokes his shot at goal. Song was at fault for gifting possession to Spurs.
    • 6' Mikel Arteta spreads the ball wide to Bacary Sagna but his hanging cross is plucked out of the air by Brad Friedel.
    • 5' Song wraps his arms around his good pal Adebayor and concedes a free-kick by the right touchline. The ball drifts in to the back post and Song sees it out, but Adebayor was threatening to get on the end of thr set-piece from Van der Vaart.
    • 4' Arsenal have struggled with set-pieces for about three years and Defoe heads off target when the ball coems back out to Rafael van der Vaart and the Dutchman delivers a teasing cross.
    • 3' It has been a decent enough start for Arsenal in front of a very vocal White Hart Lane crowd. However, Spurs win a corner when a Kyle Walker cross deflects off Kieran Gibbs.
    • 2' Aaron Ramsey loses possession with a very sloppy square pass but when Adebayor releases Luka Modric the Croatian is offside. That was close though.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 16.01 Adebayor and Van Persie shake hands. The former was of course in trouble for stamping on the latter in that game when he celebrated rather too enthusiastically.
    • 16.00 Stat from Infostrada: Spurs have won all three matches with Ledley King in the side this season. They have lost both matches where he has been absent.
    • 15.59 This is apparently the first time that Spurs have been favourites to win a game against Arsenal in the Premier League era. That tells you all you need to know about how the balance of power in North London stands at present.
    • 15.57 So how will this game pan out? Well, Spurs have gone very attacking and could pay for it. However, they clearly fancy their chances against a weak Arsenal side and if they can stay tight at the back they are likely to win the midfield battle, meaning they are favourites. Arsenal need some big performances if they are to have a chance of winning.
    • 15.55 Alejandro Carvajal gets in contact on Twitter: "Agree with your composite ideal XI, but would exchange Lennon for Van der Vaart." Have your say on Twitter
    • 15.50 Arsenal start the game in 13th place having taken only seven points from their opening six games. Tottenham are in seventh, with nine from five, having overcome a difficult start to race up the table with a run of improved form.
    • 15.45 One central figure today will of course be Emmanuel Adebayor. Once beloved at Arsenal, albeit briefly, he infuriated Gunners fans with the manner of his departure from the club and subsequent celebration when scoring against them for Manchester City in September 2009. He has promised there will be no repeat performance today - thankfully, as he would probably provoke a fairly strong reaction from the visiting support.
    • 15.40 For what it is worth, here is my composite XI from players from both sides, when all players are available: Friedel, Sagna, King, Vermaelen, Assou-Ekotto, Wilshere, Sandro, Lennon, Modric, Bale, Van Persie. That's seven from Spurs and four from Arsenal. The summer has taken it's toll on The Gunners. What's your best XI? Get in contact via Twitter and let me know. @tomEurosport
    • 15.35 So with Alex Song filling in in defence due to injuries, Francis Coquelin - veteran of the 8-2 defeat to Manchester United - is given a key role anchoring the midfield. He was excellent in the Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury, but this is the North London derby we are takling about today. Spurs line up in a very attacking shape. There are goals in this one for sure.
    • 15.30 TEAMS: SPURS: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart, Parker, Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Defoe. Subs: Pavlyuchenko, Giovani, Bassong, Corluka, Cudicini, Livermore, Sandro. /// ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Gibbs, Arteta, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, RVP, Gervinho. Subs: Fabianski, Andre Santos, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Arshavin, Benayoun, Park.
    • 15.25 Arsenal had gone 20 league games without a defeat to Spurs prior to a 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane in April 2010, when Danny Rose scored a ridiculous goal. That game proved a turning point though, and Spurs then enjoyed a 3-2 win at Emirates Stadium last season when coming from 2-0 down. Now it is arguable, for the first time since Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal almost exactly 15 years ago, that Spurs possess a better starting XI than Arsenal.
    • 15.20 This is the 167th North London derby, with Arsenal winning 69 and Tottenham 52. There have been 45 draws. Arsene Wenger celebrated his 15th anniversary in charge of Arsenal on Friday and has enjoyed long-standing superiority over the club's local rivals. However, this season that record appears to be under some threat as Spurs have been getting ever closer to a club that have been in decline over the past two seasons.
    • 15.15 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the North London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

  • Summary

    • 84' Bale absolutely races past Jenkinson and cuts back for Defoe, who has the time to try and pick out the far corner, calling Szczesny into a fine save as he tips the ball round the post.
    • 76' A great chance for Bale! Mertesacker and Song leave a ball over the top to each other and Bale sneaks in before firing a shot wide. That was absolutely despicable defending.
    • 73' GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal! An error from Szczesny who has been otherwise excellent. Song blocks an initial attempt from Modric and when the ball pops out to Walker, he takes a touch before unleashing a fierce effort from 30 yards. It had plenty of pace but the keeper should have stopped it.
    • 58' Great save! Szczesny with a fantastic stop to deny the former Arsenal man Adebayor. The striker waltzed through on goal after being quickly played in by Bale and was denied when the Pole stretched out his right arm.
    • 51' GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal! Ramsey! He had a shocker in the first half but the Welshman exploits some horrid marking to fire home from a cross from Song at the near post.
    • 40' GOAL! 1-0 Tottenham! Rafa van der Vaart puts Spurs in front and it is a well-taken finish. Adebayor lifts a lovely ball over to the left side of the defence where Van der Vaart controls with his chest and fires a shot back across goal and past Szczesny. Lovely.
    • 29' A huge chance for Arsenal! Van Persie darts away from Kaboul and cuts back for Gervinho, who with the goal opening up in front of him drags his shot wide. That is a terrible effort.
    • 28' Defoe drills in a cross from the left and Van der Vaart escapes his marker before meeting the ball with a flick off the outside of his left boot. Szczesny did well to save but Ramsey just let Van der Vaart run off him. Poor defending.
    • 7' Save! Wojciech Szczesny stands tall as Scott Parker collects a pass from Van der Vaart and toe-pokes his shot at goal. Song was at fault for gifting possession to Spurs.
    • 15.30 TEAMS: SPURS: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart, Parker, Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Defoe. Subs: Pavlyuchenko, Giovani, Bassong, Corluka, Cudicini, Livermore, Sandro. /// ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Gibbs, Arteta, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, RVP, Gervinho. Subs: Fabianski, Andre Santos, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Arshavin, Benayoun, Park.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 6
      Defenders
      Goal 6.1 7
      5.7 6
      6 7
      5.9 6
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ 6.3 8
      6.5 6
      Goal Yellow Card Substitution Out64′ 6.5 7
      6.6 7
      Strikers
      5.8 6
      Substitution Out85′ 6.9 7
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 6.2 6
      Substitution In64′ 6.2 6
      Substitution In85′ 6.3 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 6
      Defenders
      Substitution Out68′ 5.6 6
      Yellow Card 5.7 5
      5.9 5
      5.7 6
      Midfielders
      5.8 7
      Goal 5.8 6
      5.5 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out72′ 5.6 5
      Substitution Out77′ 5.3 5
      6.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In72′ 4.3 6
      Substitution In77′ 5 5
      Substitution In68′ 4.4 5

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