- Silvestre (37), Gallas (46), Adebayor (64), van Persie (68)
- Bentley (13), Bent (67), Jenas (89), Lennon (90)
- Date:2008-10-29
- Kick-off:20:00
- Venue:Emirates Stadium
- Attendance:60043
- Referee:Atkinson, M
Live Commentary
90mins
Arsene Wenger will be furious at his side for giving away possession late in that second half - they believed the game was won. However, the Frenchman surely didn't help by replacing the three most effective players on the night.
90mins
Harry Redknapp looks non-plussed about things but I'll bet his heart is racing faster than Lewis Hamilton - if this is a sign of things to come under his tenure then Spurs season ticket holders are in for a treat.
90mins
This game had everything, stunning goals, late action and epitomised everything that is good about English football. I could quite happily watch that game again right now!!
90mins
Full-Time: ARSENAL 4-4 TOTTENHAM. What an amazing game at the Emirates! Arsenal dominated for almost all the game, but they took their foot off the pedal in the final few minutes and allowed Spurs back in.
90mins
ARSENAL 4-4 TOTTENHAM. Luka Modric hits a long range shot which takes a deflection and hits the post with Alumnia beaten. Aaron LENNON rushes in to tap home an equaliser and it's mayhem!!
90mins
Tottenham are laying siege but Arsenal look oh so threatening on the break
90mins
Diaby gets a booking for a late challenge and Spurs have a chance! Bentley's free kick is turned behind for a corner
89mins
Four minutes of added time!!!
89mins
ARSENAL 4-3 TOTTENHAM. What did I say about twists! Clichy slips on halfway and Jermaine JENAS seizes posession and drives forward before curling a shot past Almunia.
88mins
Alexandre Song gets a couple of minutes run around on a cold night as he replaces Samir Nasri
87mins
Bentley is trying to sign off with another wonder goal but this latest attempt is dragged wide.
85mins
Jermaine Jenas goes into the book for a late but innocuous challenge on Denilson
84mins
Diaby tries to insert himself into the game, picking up on a loose ball before driving on and firing a shot off but it cannons off a defenders legs.
82mins
Arsenal are starting to look a little casual with a few stray passes coming in. The way this game has gone, you wouldn't be surprised if there were to be another twist.
81mins
Robin van Persie gets a great ovation as he goes off with Vassiriki Abou Diaby coming on in his place - the Dutchman has had a major influence on this game.
79mins
Harry Redknapp's last throw of the dice sees Alan Hutton replaced by Chris Gunter
78mins
Van Persie and Nasri combine well down the left hand side but the Dutchman's chip to the back post is gathered by Gomes.
76mins
Spurs will be glad to see the back of Theo Walcott as he goes off to be replaced by Emmanuel Eboue
75mins
Van Persie can't connect on a Fabregas cross with the goal at his mercy. The only mistake of the night from the Dutchman so far.
74mins
Gomes shows safe hands in getting down low to another good effort for Walcott who has caused Spurs problems all night long
72mins
Jermaine Jenas narrowly misses a whipped in free kick. Half an inch was the gap there from Spurs getting one back.
70mins
That was really poor from Hutton. Spurs had just got a towhold in this game but you can't help but feel that is game, set and match
68mins
ARSENAL 4-2 TOTTENHAM: A howler from Alan Hutton as his weak pass goes straight to Adebayor. He feeds Robin VAN PERSIE who slams home from the right edge of the area.
67mins
ARSENAL 3-2 TOTTENHAM. What an impact from Darren BENT. Almunia can only parry a fierce Huddlestone shot and Bent flies in to tap home.
65mins
Darren Bent comes on to replace Roman Pavlyuchenko
64mins
ARSENAL 3-1 TOTTENHAM. A fantastic ball from Van Persie sets Nasri clean through and he lofts the ball over the advancing Gomes and Emmanuel ADEBAYOR races in to slam home
62mins
A long clearance bounces kindly for Bentley and he takes the ball on before unleashing a fierce shot which Almunia grabs at the second attempt.
60mins
Bentley tries to dribble his way out of trouble on the edge of his box, but an Arsenal foot diverts the ball back to Emmanuel Adebayor and he has a good chance but can only drag his shot wide.
59mins
Clichy is once again upended and that sees a third yellow card in five minutes for Spurs, this time for Tom Huddlestone.
58mins
Spurs clear this free kick, but they look far from comfortable in doing so.
57mins
David Bentley slides in on Gael Clichy and goes in the book. More worryingly for Spurs, it's another Arsenal set piece.
55mins
Harry Redknapp has made his move taking off Gareth Bale and bringing on Aaron Lennon to try and get Spurs going forward
54mins
Benoit Assou-Ekotto clatters into Theo Walcott and it's a deserved booking for the left back
53mins
Arsenal are all over Spurs and Redknapp needs to act quickly or it will soon be three. Corluka is forced into a last ditch fling to stop another set piece causing havoc
51mins
The ball breaks to Denilson who is given space to get a shot off and Gomes has to get down sharply to concede a corner. From the corner, Silvestre gets his head on the ball in the middle of the goal but he glances it wide
48mins
Tom Huddlestone really will be kicking himself for conceding that free kick. He's trying to put himself about a bit but the damage is done. The game is as open as it was before the break.
46mins
ARSENAL 2-1 TOTTENHAM. Huddlestone gives away a needless free kick on the right and Van Persie whips it in and William GALLAS rises majestically at the near post the head the ball into the bottom corner
46mins
More of the same please! Spurs get the second stanza underway.
45mins
Half-Time: ARSENAL 1-1 TOTTENHAM. Well that's it and I don't know about the players but I certainly need a breather. What a fantastic half of football with both sides giving it everything in a full-blooded derby.
45mins
We're going to have a single minute of added time in the first half
43mins
Spurs are just playing it across their backline trying to take a bit of fizz out of the game and let them catch their breaths.
41mins
Arsenal are really on top now - they are pushing forward at pace and have Spurs pinned right back in their final third. There could well be another goal before half time for the home side.
39mins
Bentley spots Almunia off his line again, but this effort from much wider does not trouble the Arsenal stopper
37mins
ARSENAL 1-1 TOTTENHAM. Gomes once again makes a hash of a corner, coming out and getting nowhere near the flight of the ball. Mikael SILVESTRE dashes in at the near post and diverts it in for an equaliser which had been coming
36mins
Spurs are furious as they feel Bentley is fouled, but Arsenal carry on and Fabregas fires in a right-foot shot which is turned behind by Gomes for a corner
35mins
Another excellent burst of pace from Walcott sees him race clear of two would be tacklers, but he is smothered out as he approaches the box
33mins
Gael Clichy fancies his luck from thirty yard but it's high, wide and anything but handsome
33mins
Walcott once again has the ball at his feet in the area but the starlet rather rushes his effort and slams it against the defender
32mins
Beautiful play from Arsenal, switching it from right to left before working it to Walcott who blasts is at Gomes who gathers at the second attempt.
30mins
Walcott looks dangerous when he gets the ball. He once again runs at the Spurs defence before unleashing a shot which goes for a corner. Spurs clear the corner kick and the frustration builds
27mins
Bentley has had a couple of chances to get in decent crosses but has lacked real quality. He'll still be pinching himself over that goal - it'll be played a hundred times tonight in the Bentley household
26mins
Spurs are sticking to their guns in midfield and you can feel the tension and frustration building in the Emirates
24mins
The goal has certainly shook Arsenal and they are now starting to try and impose themselves, but Spurs are looking threatening on the break.
22mins
Gomes makes a hash in coming to collect another Arsenal corner and the ball breaks to William Gallas, but his powerful shot starts high and rises and the Spurs stopper will be breathing a huge sigh of relief
20mins
Vedran Corluka is forced to scramble clear a Walcott cross, but he can only get it as far as Van Persie. The Dutchman's shot is deflected for a corner and Arsenal fail to pose a threat.
18mins
Alan Hutton can't quite get back onside and a good opportunity is lost.
16mins
Van Persie finds a bit of room on the edge of the area, but his shot curls wide of the post, with Gomes untroubled. This game has really sparked off now - hold on to your seats.
15mins
Arsenal have a free kick in a dangerous position. Robin van Persie hits it through the wall and Gomes is forced to parry it around the post.
13mins
ARSENAL 0-1 TOTTENHAM. What a goal!! David BENTLEY spots Manuel Almunia off his line and flicks the ball up and lobs it over the stranded stopper from 40 yards out. A truly memorable effort from the former Gooner.
12mins
The first real shot of the game comes in as the ball breaks to Theo Walcott, 16 yards from goal. He lashes it with his right foot but it flies past Heurelho Gomes' right hand post
11mins
Spurs are playing with a five man midfield and Arsenal have absolutely no room in the middle third of the pitch as they are closed down as soon as they get the ball
9mins
Samir Nasri shows great skill and trickery down the left-hand touchline, but fails to repeat it when he approaches the box.
8mins
Luka Modric fires in a cross-cum-shot but it is nowhere near the goal or any of his team mates. Poor effort really
6mins
Spurs are pressing Arsenal when they have the ball and the home side are struggling to settle in the early stages
4mins
A great ball from Tom Huddlestone releases Gareth Bale, and the left back outruns his support and is forced to try his luck from an acute angle. His effort rattles the side netting but it's an early warning sign for the high defensive line of Arsenal
3mins
David Bentley's first touch is roundly booed - to be expected for the former Gunner
2mins
Benoit Assou-Ekotto intercepts and breaks down the left flank, before having a rush of blood and gifting the ball back to Arsenal
1mins
Martin Atkinson gets us underway with a cacophony of noise in north London
0mins
The last six Spurs managers have failed to get a victory over their old foes. Harry Redknapp is looking confident and it will be Arsenal to get us underway.
0mins
Arsenal were stuck in traffic getting to the game (unusual for a home team eh??) - they are keeping Spurs waiting in the tunnel
0mins
Arsene Wenger has asked the fans to raise the roof at the Emirates for this clash and the atmosphere is building nicely.
0mins
Pereira Neves Denilson returns to the home side and Gareth Bale has served a one-match suspension and returns for the visitors.
0mins
Harry Redknapp will just about be getting his feet under the table and he'll be looking to register a second successive win for the White Hart Lane outfit.
0mins
Cesc Fabregas has been in the papers today claiming that the Arsenal Ladies side could take a point off Spurs. Well, if ever a side was looking for motivation....
Match Preview
advertisement
advertisment
Match Report
Two goals in the dying minutes of a scintillating north London derby gave Tottenham and Harry Redknapp a share of the points.
Arsenal looked to be cruising to a 4-2 win until disaster struck when Jermaine Jenas took advantage of a Gael Clichy slip in the 90th minute before Aaron Lennon was on hand to stab the ball home with just seconds remaining to send the Spurs fans remaining in the ground into raptures.
Tottenham had arrived at the Emirates on a comparative high, on the back of their first victory of the season and were still basking in the Redknapp factor.
How would Spurs approach the game? They set up with Roman Pavlyuchenko on his own in attack, but around him were players ready to break forward.
In fact, it was the visitors who created the first real chance after just three minutes when Tom Huddlestone picked out Gareth Bale with a delightful cross-field pass behind the Gunners defence.
His shot at the near post hit the side-netting, but was just inches away from beating Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal's first real effort on goal came from a snap-shot by Theo Walcott in the 12th minute after being set up by Emmanuel Adebayor. The England star's left-foot shot rolled just inches wide of the right post.
Tottenham stunned the Arsenal faithful when they took the lead on 13 minutes with a 40-yard David Bentley spectacular. The former Gunner lifted the ball up for himself to send a dipping shot over Almunia, who could only help the ball into the net.
Heurelho Gomes was forced into a save a minute later from a fine Robin van Persie free-kick and the Dutch striker went close again with a curling low shot from outside the right side of the area that shaved the left post.
William Gallas should have levelled the scores on 22 minutes after Gomes spilled a corner. The ball was poked towards the Arsenal captain by Adebayor, but the Frenchman fired over the bar.
Walcott was becoming Arsenal's favoured source of attack and forced a save out of the Spurs keeper on 32 minutes, and Clichy had a shot that flew just over the bar 60 seconds later.
Arsenal were turning up the pressure, but Gomes was up to Cesc Fabregas' shot on 36 minutes, getting down well to parry the fizzing low drive from the left side.
Arsenal did however level the scores from the resulting corner. Van Persie delivered an inswinger that Mikael Silvestre headed into the net unchallenged.
The second half was barely a minute old when William Gallas powered home a header from van Persie's free-kick from the right to give the Gunners a deserved lead.
Arsenal continued to press and both Denislon and Silvestre went close again shortly after the goal.
Adebayor should have increased Arsenal's lead on 60 minutes when presented with the ball inside the Tottenham area, but somehow hooked his shot wide when it seemed easier to hit the target.
Bentley tested Almunia again on 62 minutes with a well-struck low drive from the right side of the area, but this time the Spanish keeper was up to the task, getting down well to gather the ball.
It was 3-1 to the Gunners on 64 minutes after van Persie's ball forward released Samir Nasri and the Frenchman lifted the ball towards goal. Adebayor was on hand to make sure the ball crossed the line.
Spurs fans were celebrating just four minutes later though when Huddlestone's 20-yard drive was too hot to handle. Almunia spilled the ball and Darren Bent was on hand to poke the ball home with his first touch of the game.
Spurs' celebrations were short-lived however as the Gunners restored their two-goal margin just a minute later after Alan Hutton had misplaced a back-pass directly into the path of Adebayor.
The Togo striker then accelerated into the box before squaring the ball to van Persie on the right side of the area. The Dutch striker then picked his spot before drilling home a right foot shot past a stranded Gomes.
Adebayor should have added another but somehow headed down and wide from just three yards out in front of goal, a woeful miss.
There was more drama as the clock run down to full time. Clichy somehow slipped over the ball and was robbed by Jenas who promptly ran up to the edge of the Arsenal area to curl a shot low into the right corner beyond Almunia to make it 4-3.
The Emirates Stadium was silent - partly because a large section of the Tottenham support had left the ground, but also because the home fans had become distinctly nervous.
Four minutes of stoppage time added to the tension, as did the Arsenal players who seemed to be inviting Spurs on.
A goal looked inevitable and it came in the dying seconds when a shot from Luka Modric struck the post and Lennon was quickest to poke the ball home past Almunia to claim what just a few minutes earlier had been an unlikely share of the points.
Arsenal Team
Tottenham Hotspur Team
Arsenal | Tottenham Hotspur |
Corners
| 9 | 1 |
Fouls
| 9 | 17 |
Goal attempts
| 20 | 9 |
Shots off target
| 8 | 2 |
Offsides
| 1 | 3 |



90mins
So it ends with a point each but there is no doubting which side of north London will be celebrating tonight. I'm off for a lie down in a dark room....