Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 3 Arsenal

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Saturday Sep 15 2007 01:30

Pressure continues to mount on Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol after his side squandered a lead yet again and were eventually well beaten 3-1 by Arsenal.

After Gareth Bale gave Spurs an early lead, Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice either side of a Cesc Fabregas goal to continue Tottenham's long winless streak against their north London rivals which goes back to 1999.

Jol's side have now lost four of their six games this season, but for Arsene Wenger going top of the Premier League was a great way to celebrate his new contract.

Yet it had started so well for Spurs, who took the lead when teenager Bale curled in a free-kick from 25 yards in the 15th minute. Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal was at fault for allowing the ball to creep in at his near post.

At the other end Paul Robinson was in fine form, denying Adebayor on several occasions and also saving well from Alexander Hleb.

Spurs were mainly attacking on the break, content to soak up pressure and try to hold out. But they also had good chances, with Dimitar Berbatov running in on goal, taking the ball past the hapless Almunia, but then being tackled by Kolo Toure as he shaped to shoot.

But it was inevitable that Arsenal would equalise and it came in the 65th minute when Fabregas chipped in a free-kick and Adebayor stole ahead of Bale for a free header from close range.

Spurs had defended stubbornly, but Arsenal looked more likely to score again and so it proved when Fabregas took a pass from Hleb, advanced on goal and let fly with a curling shot that gave Robinson no chance.

Even then there was a chance for Spurs to equalise when Jermaine Jenas put substitute Darren Bent through on goal, but the £16.5million striker mis-hit his shot horribly wide from close range.

Adebayor then finished off Spurs in stoppage time with a spectacular volley on the turn that flew past Robinson to make it 3-1 right at the death.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    The whistle goes, and after taking the lead, Spurs yet again fail to convert it into a win, and those two last goals from Arsenal were fantastic efforts!
  • 90
    Emmanuel Adebayor hits a super strike while Arsenal were on the counter-attack, the ball fell to Adebayor who's dipping volley finds the back of the net
  • 90
    It doesn't seem to be going Spurs' way, and the home fans aren't showing many signs of hope here.
  • 90
    Four minutes of stopage time to go, and the Spurs fans roar on their side.
  • 87
    not long to go now, and have Spurs thrown away yet another lead? Martin Jol hopes they haven't, as he knows the media will have something to say about this performance.
  • 85
    Robin van Persie is replaced by Pereira Neves Denilson
  • 85
    Darren Bent has his head in his hands, he runs onto the ball, and he has a great chance to volley it home, but he scuffs the effort and it goes wide.
  • 83
    Late goals now seem to be Arsenal's specialty, and Martin Jol certainly wont be the happiest man in White Hart Lane at the moment.
  • 82
    Bent has come on for Steed Malbranque
  • 80
    Cesc Fabregas scores! A fine long range effort worthy of winning any North London derby, and after that goal-line debate, Spurs fans will be furious.
  • 77
    Berbatov shoots towards goal and the ball is cleared off the line! Gael Clichy is the man in question here and that is a big moment in the game.
  • 76
    The game has become a bit cagey, it seems both sets of players know that one mistake can make or break this game now.
  • 74
    Martin Jol, after the drama of the Fulham game, wont be happy if Arsenal end up sneaking a win out of this game, that, is certain.
  • 72
    Tom Huddlestone has a free-kick but it doesn't even clear the first man, and the nerves are starting to show for the home side here.
  • 70
    The goal came from a Cesc Fabregas free-kick, and it seemed that with a couple of players unable to hit the target during open play, that a set piece was the only way the Gunners were going to score.
  • 68
    Gareth Bale is being replaced by Aaron Lennon
  • 67
    Hleb is booked for dissent.
  • 65
    Emmanuel Adebayor has brought the scores level! The ball is played in, Robinson came flying out but he is beten to the ball by the Arsenal man and this will certainly stir things up.
  • 64
    Tempers in general seem to be rising, and referee Clattenberg needs to make sure that this doesn't get out of control.
  • 63
    Bacary Sagna is booked for a foul on Tom Huddlestone, it seems tempers a still high after a little argument between the two a few minutes ago.
  • 61
    Tom Huddlestone finds himself in the box, but his attempt at a volley is not a good one, and his effort goes wide.
  • 58
    This game is as close as it was in the first, and the home side claim for a penalty after Keane is fouled, but the referee waves play on
  • 56
    Tomas Rosicky replaces Vassiriki Abou Diaby
  • 54
    Robinson comes out to stop Emmanuel Adebayor, Robinson though seems to get the player before he gets the ball, and could Arsenal have had a penalty there?
  • 52
    Emmanuel Adebayor has a golden chance to score, but he fails to even hit the target as the Arsenal striker shoots over the bar from about 8 yards out.
  • 50
    Berbatov rounds the keeper, and he looks set to pull the trigger, but Toure gets back quickly so when Berbatov does finally shoot, the defender is able to block.
  • 47
    There were no subs at half-time, but Toure seems to be playing more as a winger than a defender at the moment.
  • 45
    The second half begins and how will this game fair now? Spurs edged out the first half, but will they continue to do so in the second?
  • 45
    The whistle goes and the players head into the break, and so far, this has been a great entertaining derby, and fans alike will be hoping for more of the same in the second half.
  • 45
    Just the two minutes of stoppage time to go as Robbie Keane is caught offside.
  • 45
    Pascal Chimbonda is booked for asking the referee to book an opponent, and the ref rightly books Chimbonda for doing so.
  • 43
    Spurs will deserve this lead if they manage to hold onto to it by the break, the home side having a better share of the chances on goal.
  • 41
    Tom Huddlestone hits Bacary Sagna with a great tackle, and Sagne is taking a moment or two to recover from that rather strong ariel challenge.
  • 39
    The ball is crossed to Keane, but, after chesting the ball down, is unable to turn and shot on goal.
  • 38
    Comming into the latter stages of the first half, and Spurs look to go further ahead with Steed Malbranque, but his shot is saved.
  • 35
    Spurs are living life dangerously since they took the lead, Robinson has made a couple of decent saves and with Diaby hitting the bar, the Gunners have done everything but score.
  • 34
    Jermaine Jenas is booked for a foul on Robin van Persie.
  • 32
    Vassiriki Abou Diaby hits the crossbar! Diaby was close on goal, and he seemed destined to score, but somehow he hits the bar instead, and what a chance for Arsenal.
  • 29
    Gael Clichy showa great pace and looks to supply Mathieu Flamini, but Dawson takes out the ball and the player in a great challenge.
  • 26
    The ball is played through but Bale, despite his speed, cant reach it, and that was a quick counter-attack after a couple of minutes of sustained Arsenal pressure.
  • 24
    Hleb has a great effort on goal, and Robinson saves well, the Gunners run in to score from the rebound, but Young-Pyo Lee clears the danger.
  • 23
    Arsenal, at the moment, seem a bit stuck in their ideas, though credit has to go to Spurs for keeping Arsenal in check.
  • 20
    This derby encounter is certainly high-paced, but the home fans will be delighted with the start that their side has made.
  • 17
    The free-kick was about 25 yards out, and it really was inch perfect from Bale, though Almunia seems to have made a bit of a meal in going down to save it.
  • 15
    Gareth Bale scores from that very free-kick! A couple of players were lining up for that kick, but the youngster Bale does well and scores direct from the free-kick.
  • 13
    Berbatov goes down under an Arsenal challenge, and Spurs have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
  • 11
    Arsenal are beginning to pick up the pace when they attack, and with the pace that the Gunners have, this could be an early warning sign for Spurs.
  • 8
    The game has slowed slightly in tempo, but the fans are in good voice, and the match is being played to a good standard.
  • 5
    Vassiriki Abou Diaby is all over Pascal Chimbonda, and Spurs are awarded a free-kick, and there are certainly a few interesting tackles going in at the moment, but the referee is allowing play to run-on at the moment.
  • 2
    Emmanuel Adebayor has a great volley on goal, but Robinson is equal to the effort.
  • 2
    Younes Kaboul manages to clear the ball after Gael Clichy was closing in on goal and ready to let fly, a bright start from sides.
  • 0
    Mark Clattenberg gets this game underway, and with history going Arsenal's way, having home advantage may not be enough for Spurs in this 141st North London derby.
  • 0
    Manuel Almunia starts ahead of Lehmann in goal, who has an elbow injury, Senderos, Gallas and Eboue are all out as Arsenal begin with: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silva, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Diaby, Flamini, Adebayor, Van Persie
  • 0
    Richard Dawson recovers from his ankle injury and starts, Lennon and Bent return to the bench as Spurs kick-off wth: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Jenas, Bale, Berbatov, Keane

Statistics

Tottenham Hotspur
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 9
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 4
Corners 8

Arsenal
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 11
Offsides 1
Corners 4

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