Arsenal 1 - 1 SPURS
The final north-London derby at Highbury had it all - passion, controversy, a sending off - but ultimately not the result Arsenal wanted as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham.
Robbie Keane had put the visitors ahead just after the hour with a close-range strike, scored when the Gunners had a man down injured.
But with six minutes left, Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, who had started on the bench, produced a brilliant finish to level the match.
Arsenal pressed for a winner after Spurs were reduced to 10 men when Edgar Davids received a second booking, but it was the visitors who held on for what could prove a crucial point in the race for fourth spot in the Premiership - and with it qualification for the Champions League.
As manager Arsene Wenger kept one eye on Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final second leg against Villarreal, it was no surprise to see several key men start on the bench.
Understandably, however, there was an electric atmosphere as a sun-baked Highbury played host to the 151st meeting between the sides and the last one at this famous old venue.
After what was a cagey opening, the first decent chance finally arrived after 13 minutes and it fell to Spurs.
Lee Young-Pyo got clear down the left flank and whipped the ball over. Teemu Tainio's header was on target, but it was not powerful enough to trouble Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann.
Then, at the other end, Robin Van Persie's free-kick from the right was flashed across the face of goal by Gilberto.
Keane and Aaron Lennon combined on the edge of the Arsenal area to send the young Spurs winger in down the right and his low, angled drive flew wide of the far post.
After 25 minutes Michael Carrick's clever chip into the six-yard box was controlled expertly by Defoe on his chest, but the England striker's shot was brilliantly blocked by Lehmann.
Arsenal finally got their trademark slick passing together when Jose Antonio Reyes released Van Persie between Michael Dawson and Gardner.
The Dutch striker drilled a low, first-time effort on target from 16 yards, which Paul Robinson collected comfortably.
There was, however, a big let-off for Arsenal in stoppage time.
Carrick cut in from the left and skipped his way past several red shirts before darting into the box and drawing Lehmann. However, the Spurs midfielder was pushed too wide and struck the side-netting with his angled shot.
It was again a positive opening by Spurs to the second half.
Lennon's cross from the right almost found Davids in the six-yard box, a strong header from Johan Djourou keeping the Dutch midfielder out.
Gilberto and Van Persie combined to give the Dutchman a shooting chance in the box, with his low drive flashing right across Robinson's goal.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon came when Henry stripped off on the touchline, ready for a much-needed introduction as the final 30 minutes approached.
Arsenal then had a golden chance to take the lead.
Gilberto's timely pass sent Van Persie dashing clear into the area. The ball was travelling at pace, however, and Robinson was quickly off his line, rushing the striker into a shot which dropped just wide of the right-hand post.
It proved to be the Dutchman's final action of the day, Henry replacing him and Cesc Fabregas also coming on for Abou Diaby with 28 minutes to go.
However, the game erupted into controversy on 65 minutes.
Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto were involved in an accidental clash on the halfway line, which left the Arsenal defender on the floor.
Spurs, however, played on, as Davids sped clear down the right, before crossing to the far post where Keane slotted home.
The travelling fans were sent into delirium - but both Robert Pires and then Lehmann angrily confronted the Dutch international for his perceived lack of sportsmanship.
The goal stood, however, and with tempers on edge, Pires went into the referee's book for a needless late challenge from behind on Defoe.
The tense atmosphere was even getting through to the directors' box, where Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman had to ask for decorum to be restored as the home fans in the surrounding area were left less than impressed with some of the goings-on.
Arsenal were level with six minutes to go, though.
Adebayor won possession off Paul Stalteri on the left flank and carried the ball forwards before releasing Henry, who dispatched a brilliant effort with the outside of his right boot into the far corner.
The Gunners skipper ran the length of the pitch to celebrate as Highbury erupted.
Tottenham were then reduced to 10 men when Davids, who had already been cautioned, went in hard on Fabregas and left referee Steve Bennett with little option but to produce a red card.
Arsenal pressed for a winner, but Spurs held on for what could prove a crucial point in the race for fourth spot.
Arsene Wenger had a blazing touchline row with Martin Jol over Robbie Keane's controversial goal in a incident-packed 1-1 draw at Highbury and afterwards accused the Tottenham bench of lying.
Wenger was furious that Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick played on with Emmanuel Eboue lying injured after a collision with team-mate Gilberto in the build-up to Keane's 66th-minute opener.
Wenger and Jol were involved in a nose-to-nose shouting match as tempers boiled over and the Arsenal boss, having seen substitute Thierry Henry grab an equaliser six minutes from time, did not shake hands with Jol at the end of the match.
Eboue and Gilberto collided while trying to tackle Carrick, who emerged with the ball. Carrick drifted out towards the touchline before looking up and, realising that referee Steve Bennett was allowing play to carry on, he passed to Teemu Tainio. He in turn released Edgar Davids on the left and from his cross Keane had a simple tap-in.
Wenger clearly felt Carrick should have put the ball out of play to enable Eboue to be treated.
He told Sky Sports: 'It's a shame. It was hesitation from Carrick to kick the ball out when we had two players down.
'They (the Tottenham bench) even lie about that and I find that very disappointing.'
Wenger defended his decision to start a match which was crucial to Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via their league position with Henry and Cesc Fabregas on the bench.
'We play every few days at the moment,' he said. 'Also we knew we would be stronger than Spurs physically in the second half.
'They played well in the first half and we weren't in the game. But we showed great spirit and character to get back into it.'
Jol insisted he was not aware of the furore about the ball not being put out because he was following play in the build up to Keane's goal.
'To be fair I didn't even see it, I was watching Edgar Davids.
'The lad was going down then standing up and for me there's no problem.'
Asked about Wenger not shaking hands at the full-time whistle, Jol said: 'I was going to the referee (Steve Bennett) to shake hands with him. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win but for me we deserved something out of this game. Even the Arsenal fans would agree with me.
'Hopefully we can win our next two matches and we'll be fourth.'
Robbie Keane had put the visitors ahead just after the hour with a close-range strike, scored when the Gunners had a man down injured.
But with six minutes left, Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, who had started on the bench, produced a brilliant finish to level the match.
Arsenal pressed for a winner after Spurs were reduced to 10 men when Edgar Davids received a second booking, but it was the visitors who held on for what could prove a crucial point in the race for fourth spot in the Premiership - and with it qualification for the Champions League.
As manager Arsene Wenger kept one eye on Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final second leg against Villarreal, it was no surprise to see several key men start on the bench.
Understandably, however, there was an electric atmosphere as a sun-baked Highbury played host to the 151st meeting between the sides and the last one at this famous old venue.
After what was a cagey opening, the first decent chance finally arrived after 13 minutes and it fell to Spurs.
Lee Young-Pyo got clear down the left flank and whipped the ball over. Teemu Tainio's header was on target, but it was not powerful enough to trouble Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann.
Then, at the other end, Robin Van Persie's free-kick from the right was flashed across the face of goal by Gilberto.
Keane and Aaron Lennon combined on the edge of the Arsenal area to send the young Spurs winger in down the right and his low, angled drive flew wide of the far post.
After 25 minutes Michael Carrick's clever chip into the six-yard box was controlled expertly by Defoe on his chest, but the England striker's shot was brilliantly blocked by Lehmann.
Arsenal finally got their trademark slick passing together when Jose Antonio Reyes released Van Persie between Michael Dawson and Gardner.
The Dutch striker drilled a low, first-time effort on target from 16 yards, which Paul Robinson collected comfortably.
There was, however, a big let-off for Arsenal in stoppage time.
Carrick cut in from the left and skipped his way past several red shirts before darting into the box and drawing Lehmann. However, the Spurs midfielder was pushed too wide and struck the side-netting with his angled shot.
It was again a positive opening by Spurs to the second half.
Lennon's cross from the right almost found Davids in the six-yard box, a strong header from Johan Djourou keeping the Dutch midfielder out.
Gilberto and Van Persie combined to give the Dutchman a shooting chance in the box, with his low drive flashing right across Robinson's goal.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon came when Henry stripped off on the touchline, ready for a much-needed introduction as the final 30 minutes approached.
Arsenal then had a golden chance to take the lead.
Gilberto's timely pass sent Van Persie dashing clear into the area. The ball was travelling at pace, however, and Robinson was quickly off his line, rushing the striker into a shot which dropped just wide of the right-hand post.
It proved to be the Dutchman's final action of the day, Henry replacing him and Cesc Fabregas also coming on for Abou Diaby with 28 minutes to go.
However, the game erupted into controversy on 65 minutes.
Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto were involved in an accidental clash on the halfway line, which left the Arsenal defender on the floor.
Spurs, however, played on, as Davids sped clear down the right, before crossing to the far post where Keane slotted home.
The travelling fans were sent into delirium - but both Robert Pires and then Lehmann angrily confronted the Dutch international for his perceived lack of sportsmanship.
The goal stood, however, and with tempers on edge, Pires went into the referee's book for a needless late challenge from behind on Defoe.
The tense atmosphere was even getting through to the directors' box, where Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman had to ask for decorum to be restored as the home fans in the surrounding area were left less than impressed with some of the goings-on.
Arsenal were level with six minutes to go, though.
Adebayor won possession off Paul Stalteri on the left flank and carried the ball forwards before releasing Henry, who dispatched a brilliant effort with the outside of his right boot into the far corner.
The Gunners skipper ran the length of the pitch to celebrate as Highbury erupted.
Tottenham were then reduced to 10 men when Davids, who had already been cautioned, went in hard on Fabregas and left referee Steve Bennett with little option but to produce a red card.
Arsenal pressed for a winner, but Spurs held on for what could prove a crucial point in the race for fourth spot.
Arsene Wenger had a blazing touchline row with Martin Jol over Robbie Keane's controversial goal in a incident-packed 1-1 draw at Highbury and afterwards accused the Tottenham bench of lying.
Wenger was furious that Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick played on with Emmanuel Eboue lying injured after a collision with team-mate Gilberto in the build-up to Keane's 66th-minute opener.
Wenger and Jol were involved in a nose-to-nose shouting match as tempers boiled over and the Arsenal boss, having seen substitute Thierry Henry grab an equaliser six minutes from time, did not shake hands with Jol at the end of the match.
Eboue and Gilberto collided while trying to tackle Carrick, who emerged with the ball. Carrick drifted out towards the touchline before looking up and, realising that referee Steve Bennett was allowing play to carry on, he passed to Teemu Tainio. He in turn released Edgar Davids on the left and from his cross Keane had a simple tap-in.
Wenger clearly felt Carrick should have put the ball out of play to enable Eboue to be treated.
He told Sky Sports: 'It's a shame. It was hesitation from Carrick to kick the ball out when we had two players down.
'They (the Tottenham bench) even lie about that and I find that very disappointing.'
Wenger defended his decision to start a match which was crucial to Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via their league position with Henry and Cesc Fabregas on the bench.
'We play every few days at the moment,' he said. 'Also we knew we would be stronger than Spurs physically in the second half.
'They played well in the first half and we weren't in the game. But we showed great spirit and character to get back into it.'
Jol insisted he was not aware of the furore about the ball not being put out because he was following play in the build up to Keane's goal.
'To be fair I didn't even see it, I was watching Edgar Davids.
'The lad was going down then standing up and for me there's no problem.'
Asked about Wenger not shaking hands at the full-time whistle, Jol said: 'I was going to the referee (Steve Bennett) to shake hands with him. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win but for me we deserved something out of this game. Even the Arsenal fans would agree with me.
'Hopefully we can win our next two matches and we'll be fourth.'
posted by dgarden at 8:13 am
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