Source: SKY_Sports
Arsenal v Spurs live!
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 90+4 That's your lot. Arsenal win 3-0. Spurs were the architects of their own downfall today I'm afraid. All three goals could have been prevented. They competed well for most of the first half but once the hosts scored twice just before the break they never really threatened to get back into the game. Arsenal go second above Manchester United - for a few hours at least. Spurs stay fourth.[LNB]90+3 Bassong goes down with what looks like a hamstring injury as he chases after Ramsey. The youngster, then unmarked, produces a poor cross when Arsenal could easily have scored again. Bassong limps off. No subs left.[LNB]90+2 Bentley takes, Almunia is again unconvincing but Sagna clears up at the far post. It remains 3-0.[LNB]90+1 Free kick to Spurs on the right and a chance for some late consolation.[LNB]90 There will be three extra minutes.[LNB]89 Ramsey tries to find an opening but his pass loops up off a defender for Gomes to claim.[LNB]87 Bentley tries an awful shot which turns into a pass to Bale. Crouch then puts the ball into the net from his cutback but the whistle had long since gone - Bale was well offside.[LNB]86 Both sides make their final change. Alan Hutton replaces Corluka and Aaron Ramsey comes on for van Persie.[LNB]85 Pavlyuchenko does ball down the left and sends in a decent ball. Crouch rises to head back across Almunia but he can't get it beyond the Spaniard.[LNB]85 Fabregas delivers again but this one is taken by Gomes.[LNB]84 Eduardo gets to the left byline and wins another corner.[LNB]83 Diaby heads wide from Fabregas' free kick when unmarked. He should have scored. The replay shows it actually hit his shoulder.[LNB]82 Corluka heads the ball behind for another Arsenal corner.[LNB]80 Fabregas sends a free kick into the box from the left. It finds the head of Eduardo but his effort is straight at Gomes.[LNB]79 Emmanuel Eboue replaces Arshavin as Arsenal look to see this one out.[LNB]78 Another controversial card. Vermaelen hooks his foot around the side and wins the ball from Corluka but he's penalised any way.[LNB]77 Gallas cuts the ball out as Spurs try to get Bale into a good position on the edge of the box.[LNB]76 Vermaelen loses the ball but Crouch tries to dink it over the Arsenal backline. It's a poor try and Clichy is able to head the ball back to the keeper.[LNB]75 Pavlyuchenko gets away from Sagna and hits a left-foot shot but it's straight at Almunia.[LNB]74 An ambitious effort from Arshavin but that was never going in. We head towards the final 15 minutes with Arsenal three to the good.[LNB]73 A decent move from the visitors ends with Bentley's cross to the far post headed goalwards by Crouch but Almunia is there to make an easy save.[LNB]72 Arshavin tries to find van Persie and then falls to the ground in an heap. Something for the Spurs fans to laugh at, at least.[LNB]71 'Oles' going up from the home fans as they enjoy a spell of possession.[LNB]70 Fabregas swings the ball in but there's no Arsenal player within three yards of Gomes, who duly makes an easy catch.[LNB]69 King comes across to concede a corner as van Persie threatens.[LNB]68 Arshavin tries to thread the ball to Fabregas but it hits him on the heel and rebounds against the Russian's hand! Free kick and an odd moment.[LNB]66 Eduardo has a glorious chance to make it four. Fabregas hits a ball over the Spurs defence to the Croatian who is clean through. However, he slides the ball wide of the advancing Gomes and also wide of the post. Bad miss. Should be 4-0.[LNB]65 Pavlyuchenko comes on for Keane as Redknapp tries something to turn this around.[LNB]63 Chance for Keane to reduce the deficit but his shot from the left of the box is well saved by Almunia.[LNB]62 Crouch is the first man in the book for throwing the ball away in anger.[LNB]61 Very strange one that with almost every player stopping for a second or so. But Clattenburg certainly never blew and was right to play the advantage.[LNB]60 GOAL - VAN PERSIE. A bit of a bizarre goal this. he linesman signals for a foul on Sagna as he goes down the right by the full-back is still on his feet so Clattenburg waves play on. Nearly everyone had stopped expecting the whistle but when Sagna restarts his run he crosses low for van Persie to tap home past Gomes who probably should have done better in cutting the cross out.[LNB]58 Bentley whips the free kick goalwards but Almunia does well to tip it over. In fairness, it was pretty close to him. A decent effort, though, from the £17million man.[LNB]57 Gallas handles on the edge of the box during an aerial challenge with Crouch. It's a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area.[LNB]57 Bale will go wide left of midfield so that may well mean Bentley going back to a more orthodox wide right role.[LNB]56 Gareth Bale comes on for Tottenham in place of Huddlestone. Eduardo receives trreatement and is OK to play on.[LNB]55 Eduardo appears to have taken a knock to the head.[LNB]54 Almost a chance for Spurs. Crouch flicks on and for some reason Gallas lets the ball drop. Keane almost gets on the end of it but the French defender recovers to finally clear. That's why Arsenal's fans were concerned at the interval.[LNB]52 Diaby sends a good ball through to Eduardo but as he homes in on goal, Gomes comes out to meet him and make a good stop. A Spurs comeback isn't looking too likely at the moment.[LNB]51 Niko Kranjcar and Roman Pavlyuchenko are warming up now as Redknapp considers changes.[LNB]50 Good play sees van Persie wriggle away from King on the left. He sends in a low ball which evades Arshavin and Gomes. The ball runs to Diaby but his goalbound shot is blocked by Bassong. Almost a third for the hosts.[LNB]49 A fairly quiet start to this second half. No chances so far.[LNB]48 Interesting to note Bentley has already popped up in the middle and on the left. Looks like he could be given more of a roving role in this half.[LNB]47 Bentley tries a fancy flick but it only goes through to Almunia.[LNB]46 I've just been reminded that Spurs were 4-2 down with two minutes left in this game last year, so hope springs eternal![LNB]Restart: Spurs get us back under way with plenty of work to do.[LNB] As the teams re-emerge, I'll leave the feedback with this last assessment, which seems pretty good to me. Nikos says: "The first half was fairly even, if you exclude the two goals in one minute. Arsenal will have to come out in the second half with their heads switched on so that they don't give a repeat of the match against West Ham. They need to be aware of complacency and keep themselves in the lead. As mentioned in the West Ham match for Arsenal, they need to be more ruthless when ahead to leave teams in the dust. Tottenham will need to dig deep if they want to grab some goals in this match, but who knows? With strikers like Croach and Keane, anything can happen."[LNB] Arsenal are now 1/40 to hold their lead with Sky Bet. If you Arsenal doubters want to back Spurs to turn this around you can get a whopping 80/1. The draw is now out to 16/1.[LNB] Some pretty negative stuff coming for you Gooners given the scoreline! At least Mathew Adebusuyi in Peterborough is confident. "Arsenal will be stupid to let lose their win. What happened last week was a mistake, I think, and I predict 3-1 to Arsenal. I can't see them coming back into the came when Defoe is not available. Sorry Harry."[LNB] Hope for Spurs? Well, Arsenal fan Chris is not celebrating yet. "Even though we are two goals up, I am still not confident. I can see this ending 3-3, given the way we have defended late on in our last two games." Similar views from Curtly Mejias, who says: "I'm not going to say this game is won because it isn't. Arsenal need to show now that they are capable of closing off games to be in real contention. This is coming from me and I'm an Arsenal fan."[LNB] Feedback time. Craig Charles - not sure if it's that one or not - says: "I think that Arsenal had a lucky spell and they have blown more than a two-goal lead before. The next goal is crucial." Dean Millen seems to agree. "Arsenal had a great two minutes, great Fabregas goal! Otherwise, Arsenal's passing and energy was below par. Spurs always looking to knock the ball up for Crouch. Harry will have to put someone alongside Crouch if they are to find a way through. Arsenal need to sort the passing out, if so, this could be a big score today."[LNB] Is there any way back for Spurs in this one? And what did you make of the first half? Let me know your thoughts - andy.schooler@bskyb.com - and I will publish some during the break.[LNB]45+2 There's the half-time whistle. It was nip and tuck for 42 minutes but then those two quick goals changed everything. Spurs are in a hole now, but remember Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at West Ham last week.[LNB]45+1 Song is stopped by Assou-Ekotto as Arsenal threaten.[LNB]45 The fourth official signals two added minutes. Sorry, a minimum of two added minutes.[LNB]45 Corner to Arsenal as they continue to press. Gomes punches clear.[LNB]44 Wow. This game could have been decided in a 60-second spell there. It took just 11 seconds from the kick off for Arsenal to net again.[LNB]43 GOAL - FABREGAS. Palacios gifts Arsenal the ball straight from kick off. Fabregas picks things up and sets off on a run that ends with a shot from 18 yards past Gomes. Incredible minute![LNB]42 GOAL - VAN PERSIE. Sagna sneds in a low ball from the right and van Persie gets in front of King to prode the ball past Gomes at his near post from around seven yards.[LNB]41 Diaby tries to find Eduardo but a sliding tackle from Assou-Ekotto halts the attack.[LNB]40 Play quickly returns to the other end where Sagna plays in van Persie but he swings a right foot which barely makes connection with the ball. A chance to test Gomes is missed.[LNB]39 Spurs attack again and this time Bentley gets to the byline and delivers a lofted cross. Almunia does well to claim with Jenas in close attention.[LNB]38 A good Spurs move almost creates a good chance. A series of passes ends with Jenas slipping the ball through but it just evades Keane who would have had only the keeper to beat.[LNB]37 Arsenal can finally make the change with Bendtner replaced by Eduardo da Silva. The corner is then taken by Gomes claims it with ease.[LNB]36 Arshavin sets off on another run and his shot from the edge of the box deflects off a good challenge from Corluka. Corner.[LNB]35 Corluka makes the most of Bendtner's injury by leaving him for dead down the right. He sends in a dangerous low ball which is heading for Crouch until Vermaelen slides in with an excellent intervention.[LNB]34 Palacios hits a long aimless ball which runs through to Almunia. Spurs need better than that.[LNB]33 Arshavin's shot is off target and in the aftermath Bendtner signals to the bench he's pulled his groin. It looks like he wants to come off.[LNB]32 Arsenal look the more threatening when in possession but they are not creating many chances. Spurs have defended well and King, as ever, looks a class act in the centre of the backline.[LNB]31 The ball is hit long into the penalty area where Diaby heads away but only as far as Huddlestone. His shot, however, is blocked by Fabregas.[LNB]30 Abou Diaby fouls Palacios in the centre circle. Free kick.[LNB]29 Arshavin sends Sagna down the right and his cross is cut out well by King. Assou-Ekotto picks the loose ball up but plays an awful clearance to Fabregas. He plays in van Persie but from a tight angle he finds the side netting - a poor effort from such a tight angle. He had to go across the keeper there.[LNB]28 Huddlestone knocks the ball into the Arsenal box where Keane nods the ball past the angle. It was a looping effort that never really looked like dropping in.[LNB]26 A poor ball in from the right from Bentley perhaps sums up what a disappointing year he's had since scoring in this fixture almost exacty 12 months ago.[LNB]25 A bit of a quiet period this as both sides give the ball away quickly with loose passes. A reminder that Spurs will go above Arsenal today if they win.[LNB]23 Spurs waste an attack as Corluka sends the ball out for a throw. It was too far away from Crouch.[LNB]21 Almunia worries a few fans as he only takes a cross at the second attempt. It's OK though and Arsenal go back on the attack.[LNB]20 Wonderful save from Gomes keeps the game all square. Arshavin's shot is blocked by King and the loose ball falls to Fabregas. His shot from 16 yards is tipped away at full stretch by the keeper. Great stop and it remains 0-0.[LNB]19 Almost a chance for Spurs but good defending from Song prevents it. Crouch heads down perfectly into Keane's path but as he closes in on good, Song comes in to make a fine tackle. The ball even comes off Keane for a goal kick.[LNB]18 Bendtner fouls Wilson Palacios in midfield from behind but still no card. Not quite so obvious that one but it could have resulted in a caution.[LNB]16 From the free kick, the ball is headed just wide of Gomes' goal. The replay shows it actually came off the head of Crouch. It should have been a corner but instead a goal kick is awarded. I'm afraid to say Mr Clattenburg could be making more headlines tomorrow at this rate.[LNB]15 Benoit Assou-Ekotto kicks the ball away after conceding a free kick but again Clattenburg only has a word.[LNB]14 Crouch tries one of his acrobatic efforts but he fails to get a decent connection and Almunia gathers.[LNB]13 Tom Huddlestone loses the ball sloppily on halfway, allowing Gael Clichy to surge forward. He finds Arshavin but his shot is not the best and fails to trouble Gomes seriously.[LNB]12 It's been a fairly even start so far, Arsenal perhaps slightly the better but certainly not by much.[LNB]11 William Gallas does well to shepherd Jenas wide and then wins the ball off him. Good defending.[LNB]10 For those of you remember that 4-4, think of it again. Bentley has just tried another 45-yarder. Last year it dipped in, this time his left-foot effort is off target. Two of those in a career would be something![LNB]9 Awful tackle from Bentley catches Thomas Vermaelen on the outside of the ankle. Somehow he isn't booked. Not a good start from Clattenburg - Bentley could have been booked twice now, once for that earlier handball.[LNB]8 As Arshavin goes down with a slight knock, it's worth telling you that Robbie Keane is playing very much down the left side in these early stages, leaving Crouch rather alone up front down the middle.[LNB]7 Arshavin gets into the area but sees his shot blocked by King. Moments later it's the same two players again and a corner results. Nothing comes of the flag kick though.[LNB]6 More good play from Corluka, this time in the air, stops the ball getting to van Persie.[LNB]5 Arshavin tries to get down the left but he's stopped by a good tackle from Vedrun Corluka.[LNB]4 Bentley's corner is a poor one and Bacary Sagna heads away at the near post. Bentley then handles and it's a home free kick,[LNB]3 Alex Song tries to hit the ball back to Almunia with the outside of the box but instead just boots it out for a corner![LNB]2 Cesc Fabregas surges into the box and thinks he's won a corner but Mr Clattenburg says no.[LNB]1 An early chance for Niklas Bendtner after good work from Van Persie and Andriy Arshavin. However, the Dane drills his shot high over the bar from 20 yards.[LNB]Kick-off: Arsenal get us under way. Normal colours today. Arsenal in red, Spurs in white.[LNB] Will Gentry adds: "I predict 3-1 Arsenal with Arsenal's second and third coming very late." Very precise that. Well, the players are now on he pitch and we're almost ready to go. Come on![LNB] Ian McDonald emails to remind us of last year's equivalent fixture - a thrilling 4-4 draw. "This game gave me nightmares as I was waiting for Arsenal to get my football coupon up last year and Spurs equalised in the 95th min! Never mind, this year I think Arsenal will have too much and will just sneak it 3-2, Crouchy to score first."[LNB] It's worth mentioning to you Arsenal and Spurs fans that the Carling Cup draw has both been made and both of your sides are heading to Manchester. Spurs will be away to United, with Arsenal at City. Those games take place in December. Full draw details can be found elswehere on the site.[LNB] You can email me your thoughts on the game to: andy.schooler@bskyb.com. For what it's worth, I agree there could be a few goals today. I'm going for a 2-2 draw.[LNB] For those fancying a bet, Spurs can be backed at 5/1 to continue their impressive away form - they have three wins from five away games so far this season in the Premier League, the best in the entire division. Arsenal, however, are favourites at 8/15 to pick up the three points. The draw is a 3/1 shot. Sky Bet's Richard Evison reports: "Both teams have been popular with the punters while the draw has remained friendless. There have been a lot of high-scoring affairs between these two sides over the last few seasons and five goals or more in the match can be backed at a tempting 10/3. On the goalscorer front (Robin) van Persie is the most popular choice as he is a 9/2 chance to grab the first goal."[LNB] A reminder that kick-off is at 1245 GMT at the Emirates. Officials have been in the news of late. Today's ref is Mark Clattenburg, who I do remember having a shocker in the Merseyside derby a few years back. Hope it's not the case again today![LNB] Here are the full team line-ups:[LNB]Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Mannone, Senderos, Nasri, Eduardo, Ramsey, Eboue, Gibbs.[LNB]Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone, Palacios, Jenas, Keane, Crouch. Subs: Button, Hutton, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Kranjcar, Woodgate.[LNB] Welcome, Reds, Whites or simply interested neutrals. Straight to the team news. Arsenal pick Manuel Almunia ahead of Vito Mannone to keep goal From the team that drew against West Ham last weekend, striker Nicklas Bendtner replaces Emmanuel Eboue in Arsenal's starting XI. Spurs are missing Jermain Defoe (suspended), while key men Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric remain injured. Jermaine Jenas, Peter Crouch, Vedran Corluka and Ledley King return after missing the midweek Carling Cup win over Everton. King is partnered by Sebastien Bassong in central defence. Jonathan Woodgate is on the bench.[LNB] Kick-off is at 1245 GMT.[LNB]
