Arsenal recovered from 2-0 down against Tottenham Hotspur to claim a point from a thrilling North London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
Christian Eriksen profited from a Bernd Leno mistake to give Spurs an early lead in the match. Harry Kane then extended that advantage with yet another derby goal from the penalty spot before Alexandre Lacazette earned a foothold just before the break with a brilliant shot. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang levelled the game up with a fantastic close-range finish with 20 minutes remaining but a dominant Gunners outfit were not quite able to hit the winner as both sides went away with a point.
As a result, Arsenal sit fifth in the Premier League table, whilst Tottenham are ninth.
Leno puts opener on a plate for Eriksen
The first real chance of the game resulted in the opening goal and it was a clanger from Bernd Leno that was the main cause. Erik Lamela burst through the Arsenal defence and tested the stopper with a low strike but he could only palm the ball straight to Eriksen who tapped it home.
He then redeemed himself however as Spurs hit Arsenal on the counter-attack once again. Heung-Min Son sent a stunner towards the top corner but the goalkeeper managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Danny Rose also had a crucial intervention as he rose to block Nicolas Pepe’s header at the back-post. The Frenchman then went even closer as he squeezed a free-kick marginally wide of goal.
Kane and Lacazette have their say
Arsenal dominated the majority of the chances throughout the match but it was Tottenham who hit yet another blow. A terrible challenge from Granit Xhaka on Son saw a penalty correctly awarded. Kane was predictably the man to step up and he confidently dispatched the ball into the bottom corner.
Pepe continued to look dangerous though and another good stop from Hugo Lloris saw the winger denied yet again.
The Gunners’ goal did eventually come and it was a stunning individual effort from Lacazette. The striker picked up the ball, danced through the Tottenham defence and emphatically powered the ball into the net.
Arsenal come on strong
Unai Emery’s troops continued their positive play after the break and they were in a constant battle with Lloris. Mattéo Guendouzi was the next to go close as he swivelled and struck for the bottom corner only for the keeper to somehow get down and tip the ball around the post.
Spurs did still carry a threat though and Kane reminded the Gunners of his danger as his booming shot cannoned back off of the far post.
Substitute Dani Ceballos also went extremely close with a stunning shot from range but Lloris was again equal to it.
Aubameyang hits the equaliser
The Gunners’ pressure did eventually pay off and it was Aubameyang again with an expert finish. Guendouzi’s cross had expertly picked out the striker and he finished coolly into the bottom corner with a deft finish, sending the Emirates into raptures.
They thought they had hit a winner as Sokratis prodded the ball home but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Moussa Sissoko also had a wonderful chance to snatch three points as he was picked out by Kane but ballooned his shot over the crossbar to ensure the game ended level.
Final Thoughts
Arsenal will feel massively aggrieved that they weren’t able to claim the victory. Emery’s men were the better side on the day and produced the majority of the chances. As in their draw with Manchester City though, Tottenham were clinical when chances came their way and claimed an impressive point heading into the international break.
Match Report
Arsenal: Leno (6); Kolasinac (6), Luiz (5), Sokratis (6), Maitland-Niles (6); Guendouzi (7), Xhaka (6), Torreira (6) (Ceballos (7), 64′); Aubameyang (7), Lacazette (7) (Mkhitaryan (5), 67′), Pepe (6).
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris (6); Rose (6), Vetonghen (5), Alderweireld (6), Sanchez (6); Winks (6), Sissoko (6); Eriksen (7), Son (6) (Lo Celso (N/A), 78′), Lamela (6) (Alli (6), 60′); Kane (7).
Goals: Eriksen (10′), Kane PEN (40′), Lacazette (45+1′), Aubameyang (71′)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Yellow Cards: Rose (28′), Lamela (32′), Eriksen (57′), Lacazette (63′), Winks (74′) Sanchez (78′), Sokratis (87′), Xhaka (90+2′)
Red Cards: N/A
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