Live Commentary: Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur


Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.


Spurs head into this midday North London derby showdown unbeaten in their opening 10 top-flight outings this term, but currently trail their opponents by three points due to a succession of draws.

The Lilywhites are winless in their last six in all competitions, in fact, while the Gunners are in a confident mood after winning 10 of their last 11 games and scoring 32 goals in the process.

What will happen when the two arch rivals lock horns this afternoon? Find out below with our extensive updates.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

Arsenal: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellerin, Monreal, Coquelin, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi, Alexis


ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Ramsey, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud


Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Son; Kane

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Winks, Onomah, Nkoudou, Janssen











The full-time whistle is blown at the Emirates Stadium, meaning a fourth league draw on the spin for Tottenham Hotspur. It is a result that they surely would have taken pre-match, but they may now feel that they missed the chance to capitalise on Arsenal's rather sluggish display. Harry Kane's second-half penalty helped the Lilywhites to their latest point, coming after Kevin Wimmer had put the ball into his own net 43 minutes in. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match.


90+5 min FULL TIME: ARSENAL 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

90+3 min Half a chance for Janssen, who got his volley completely wrong and failed to even get a shot away when a cross came in from the left. We are now three minutes into five added on at the Emirates Stadium - still time for either side to win this.

90+1 min CLOSE! So nearly a dramatic finish to the game as a Sanchez cross from the left is met by the head of Giroud, but it lacked any real power and Lloris barely had to break into a sweat to keep it out.

89 min Real frustration for the hosts, as substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain blasts over from a tight angle. Prior to that, Son appeared to pull out of a 50-50 challenge with Cech after the keeper charged out 50 yards from goal.

87 min Good defending from Wimmer to sweep up the ball, as Arsenal look to thread it through to their forward duo. Ozil and Alexis have been incredibly quiet this afternoon, unable to really get their foot on the ball in the final third.

85 min OFF THE POST! Eriksen's free kick curls in dangerously, with nobody getting a touch and the ball eventually coming back off the post and to safety. Both teams have now hit the upright in a game of minimal chances.

83 min It is looking more and more likely that the spoils will be shared in this North London derby, as the chances have well and truly dried up. It has been far from a classic; neither side truly doing enough to deserve the victory.

81 min Arsenal fans urging their side on now, as Tottenham start to knock the ball around at the back. No pressure on them, which is strange to see with the Gunners the side the more desperate to pick up all three points this afternoon.

79 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Further bad news for Southgate, as Walker hobbles off the field. Tripper a more than able deputy, coming on for the final 10 minutes or so with his side looking to preserve this point.

77 min Real panic at the back for Spurs, as the ball falls for Bellerin to blast towards goal. It takes a deflection and Lloris is there to pounce. Those attacking changes appear to be working as far as Wenger and Arsenal are concerned.

75 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Kane has lasted longer than expected, but he is now replaced by Janssen. The summer signing is yet to score from open play this term, scoring all three of his goals from the penalty spot. Dier is booked for an illegal challenge.

73 min SHOT! Ozil is played through but Lloris is quickly out and the German is unable to lift the ball over him. A corner for Arsenal nonetheless, which falls for Ramsey to smash over the bar - decent attempt, but it was always rising.

71 min ARSENAL SUBS! No messing around by Wenger, as he brings on Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Iwobi and Walcott. All three changes made, each of which has added some fresh, attacking impetus to the Gunners' ranks.

69 min YELLOW CARD! No real action over the past 10 minutes or so, with both sides again struggling to create any openings. A poor Iwobi pass allowed Spurs to counter, and a Koscielny challenge on Kane was deemed illegal by referee Mark Clattenburg.

67 min Mustafi trods on the feet of Rose, leaving the full-back down on the ground. He appears to be OK to continue, but Pochettino has Trippier waiting in the wings should the England international fail to shake off the knock.

65 min ARSENAL SUB! The first alteration of the afternoon is indeed Ramsey for Coquelin. The Welshman's last goal came against Spurs earlier this year, and he also has a couple of assists since returning from his injury layoff.

63 min Eriksen tries his luck from a good 40 yards out, but he was never going to trouble Cech from there. Ramsey is being readied to come on, and word is that Coquelin is the man who will make way - an attack-minded change by Wenger.

61 min CLOSE! The chances starting to arrive at both ends now - Iwobi sending in a delightful ball which Xhaka appeared to pull out of heading at the last moment. It confused Lloris a little, as he parried the ball behind.

59 min Best move of the match so far, as the ball is spread nicely to Rose down the left. The cross was decent, too, but Monreal superbly got across to deny Kane tapping the ball in from a few yards out, evening earning his side a goal kick in the process.

57 min A promising cross into the box is headed behind by a Spurs defender, as Arsenal look to grab a foothold in this game. Bar a 10-minute spell, it has been a hugely underwhelming showing from the Gunners in an attacking sense. Wenger must surely be thinking of a change.

55 min SAVE! Xhaka sends a shot sailing high over the bar, summing things up as far as Arsenal are concerned. Spurs then get the ball forward quickly, with Mustafi's weak header falling nicely for Eriksen to strike. Cech was equal to it, though, pushing the ball aside.

53 min Five goals in five North London derbies for Harry Kane, who sends his penalty right down the middle. Cech frustrated at himself for not keeping that out, but he should vent his frustration at Koscielny for giving the pen away.

52 min GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (HARRY KANE, PEN)

51 min PENALTY TO TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR! Now then! A mixture of Koscielny and Monreal bring down Dembele inside the box - the former making the telling contact, which led to Mark Clattenburg pointing straight to the spot.

50 min Super play from Son, who knocked the ball past Koscielny and so nearly had a clean shot on goal, if not for the defending of Bellerin who got across well to cut the ball out. Spurs starting to step things up a little now.

48 min Spurs started the half positively enough but, again, they have not really asked any questions of their rivals' backline. Pochettino has just sent a few of his subs out to warm up, so we can expect to see a change or two shortly.

46 min RESTART! Spurs get us back under way at the Emirates Stadium, desperately seeking a route back into this game. The Lilywhites will perhaps feel aggrieved to have gone in a goal down, but they still have 45 minutes to turn things around.


Referee Mark Clattenburg sounds his whistle for half time, bringing to a close a first half that never truly got going at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will not care too much, as they have a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Kevin Wimmer own goal a few minutes before the break.


45+4 min HALF TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

45+3 min Coquelin collides with Mustafi, leaving the summer signing down on the ground and in need of treatment. It could well be a broken nose for him, but half time is seconds away so he will have a chance to put it back in place if that is the case!

45+1 min Walcott having words with Wanyama, claiming that the Kenyan used his elbow when in a 50-50 duel. Half time two minutes away, with the Gunners protecting a lead which came in fortuitous circumstances to say the least.

44 min A stunning header from Wimmer opens the scoring in this North London derby - into the wrong net! Ozil's free-kick delivery was nodded past his own keeper by the Austrian, on what is his first appearance in the Premier League this term. A few Arsenal players appeared to be offside when the initial ball came in, though.

43 min GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (KEVIN WIMMER, OWN GOAL)

41 min Tottenham's turn to attack now but, unlike their opponents a few minutes ago, they are unable to do anything with the ball. That Walcott strike is by far the closest we have come to finding a breakthrough; the Gunners now well on top.

39 min OFF THE POST! Walcott so close to scoring his sixth career goal against Spurs, taking on a shot from range early and rather catching Lloris off guard. The ball cannoned back off the upright and the rebound was blasted over.

37 min Walcott whips a free kick into the box, which Kane headed clear. A really flat atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium, no helped by the early kickoff, with neither side able to find any real momentum in this first half.

35 min It is fair to say that Arsenal are moving through the gears now, creating that Ozil opening and a really good chance for Iwobi. Spurs now having to ride out this spell of pressure, with the Gunners the side on top with 10 minutes of the half to go.

33 min SAVE! Sanchez and Ozil combine before the ball is played to Iwobi, who sees his shot easily kept out by Lloris. He should have been doing better from there, left alone in he box but slipping and failing to get power behind the attempt.

31 min SHOT! A rare opening for Arsenal, as Ozil is picked out in space on the edge of the box. The in-form German's shot was rather scuffed, though, ending well wide of the target in the end. That sums things up so far!

29 min The ball breaks loose for Sanchez, who smashes it high over the bar. Kyle Walker is currently down receiving some treatment - not a great sign for Spurs who are already having to make do without key midfielder Dele Alli this afternoon.

27 min Arsenal finally look to get bodies forward into the opposition box, and it nearly pays off as the ball is chipped to Coquelin who puts his foot through it on the volley. It was blocked away in the end but did appear to be on target.

25 min Home fans beginning to get a little frustrated now as they continue to see their side struggle to adapt to this five-man Tottenham backline. Only 25 minutes played but this is not the Arsenal we have become used to seeing this term.

23 min Spurs looking by far the more composed side, with more than a quarter of the match now played. Still awaiting that first real chance, but if either side is going to find the breakthrough then it looks more likely to be the Lilywhites.

21 min CLOSE! The first real exciting moment of the match, as Eriksen floats a ball into the box for Kane to nod narrowly wide of the post. Not an easy chance by any means, but the returning striker so nearly buried it.

19 min Arsenal are still struggling to get a foot on the ball, with Spurs the team looking more like the hosts. Coquelin with a strong challenge on Rose to get the fans going - more of that would not go amiss following a quiet opening 19 minutes.

17 min It does appear as though Spurs have gone with five at the back this afternoon and, unlike Everton at Chelsea yesterday, it is working well as the Gunners have yet to create anything. A slow start to the game, to say the least.

15 min The tempo of the game has now dropped somewhat, bringing it into line with what we can usually expect from a midday kickoff. Spurs the side currently knocking the ball around in midfield, looking to make something happen.

13 min Pochettino confirmed pre-match that Alli will be out "for a few weeks" after picking up an injury in training on the eve of this match. That will only really effect Spurs for this game, but England will have to make do without the midfielder for games against Scotland and Spain.

11 min Dembele looking bright in the opening 11 minutes or so of this North London derby, bringing the ball forward to help Spurs. It is the visitors who have looked just about the more composed in so far, with the Gunners unable to find their rhythm.

9 min Sanchez is left frustrated as a pass into his feet comes after he strayed into an offside position. A fast tempo to the game but still no real chances; that Son run in behind the closest we have come to a breakthrough so far.

7 min YELLOW CARD! Kevin Wimmer enters the referee's book for a late challenge on Coquelin - the right call by Mark Clattenburg who ultimately had little choice. Not the type of fixture that you want to be sitting on a yellow card for close to 90 minutes!

5 min Poor defending from Mustafi, as he allows Son to turn him and charge in down the left. The cross came in but Kane could not quite turn it home, though it has been a positive spell for Spurs who appear well up for this game.

3 min A cross from the left is met by Walker, who gets under the ball and heads well over the bar. Hard to tell whether Spurs are going with five at the back at the Emirates Stadium, with Dier comfortable sitting in deep midfield or in the backline.

1 min KICKOFF! A positive start to the game for Arsenal, as they go direct in an attempt to get Ozil in. Lloris was quick to read the danger on this occasion, but clear to see the Gunners ' ploy inside the opening minute or so here.

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