Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham: Gibbs denies Spurs derby glory

  

Kieran Gibbs came off the bench to bundle in a late equaliser and rescue a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Tottenham on Sunday.

Harry Kane slotted past Petr Cech in the first half to give Mauricio Pochettino's side a deserved lead against a Gunners team lacking any real spark in attack.

Olivier Giroud hit the crossbar with a second-half header and glanced another effort just wide, but Cech kept Arsenal in the match with fine saves to deny Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen.

And the goalkeeper's performance proved pivotal when substitute Gibbs converted Mesut Ozil's cross at the far post 13 minutes from time to secure a share of the spoils for the home side.

Arsenal continue to trail Premier League leaders Manchester City on goal difference, while Spurs are back up to fifth in the table, five points adrift of their north London rivals.

Arsene Wenger's men had the best of a scrappy opening 20 minutes but both sides lacked composure in the final third, with early chances at a premium.







Eric Dier headed a good opportunity wide of the far post from Eriksen's flighted free-kick as Spurs began to settle on the ball, and Danny Rose lashed over from 18 yards when given time and space.

Tottenham were growing in confidence and Kane silenced the frustrated home fans after 32 minutes with his fifth goal in three league matches. The England striker's simple run through the heart of the Arsenal defence was picked out by Rose's long ball into the left channel, and Kane rolled a shot past Cech and into the far corner.

Giroud went down under a challenge from Jan Vertonghen off the ball and promptly barged the Belgium international to ground as tempers flared before Cech denied Kane a second by parrying away a fierce low shot.

Arsenal came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and Joel Campbell had Hugo Lloris at full stretch with a curling effort from the right, but Eriksen came even closer with a shot that clipped Mathieu Flamini's knee and flew just wide.

Giroud then caught the crossbar with a header from Ozil's free-kick and Laurent Koscielny looped another header wide as the Gunners turned up the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Arsenal's aerial threat looked their best chance of breaking down Spurs' resistance but Giroud's accuracy was off and he nodded Ozil's latest delivery wide of the far post after rising unchallenged.

Eriksen and Alderweireld were both thwarted by Cech again as Spurs looked to kill the game off before the Gunners finally made their goalkeeper's excellence count.

Ozil clipped a cross towards the far post from the right and Gibbs, introduced off the bench just three minutes earlier, arrived in perfect time to force the ball over Lloris at the near post for his first goal in over a year.

With their tails up, Arsenal pushed forward for a winner and Lloris did well to save Giroud's glancing header low to his right, but Spurs held out to remain unbeaten since the opening day of the Premier League season.