Match Report: Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur
|Harry Redknapp brought his bottom of the league Spurs side to the Emirates Stadium knowing a point was desperately needed – and boy, did he get his wish.
Brazilian midfielder Denilson, fullback Bacary Sagna and striker Emmanuel Adebayor were welcomed back into the Arsenal XI by Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal Starting XI
Almunia
Sagna – Gallas – Silvestre- Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Denilson- Nasri
Adebayor – van Persie
Spurs Starting XI
Gomes
Hutton – Corluka – Woodgate – Assou-Ekotto
Bentley – Jenas – Huddlestone – Bale
Modric
Pavlyuchenko
First Half
Aside from that remark, there were plenty of points to prove for Spurs’ players, and none more so than Bentley, who found his opportunities at Arsenal limited before getting loaned out and sold in 2006.
There was also Luka Modric, who Gunners boss Arsene Wenger deemed too lightweight to succeed in England. Gareth Bale, meanwhile, still has not won a league game with Spurs since arriving 18 months ago from Southampton.
It was Bale who had the first opportunity of the match, racing onto Tom Huddlestone’s ball over the top in the third minute and finding the side-netting.
But the visitors were ahead 10 minutes later through Bentley’s moment of magic.
Arsenal failed to clear convincingly from defence, leading to Modric heading the loose ball over his head towards Jenas.
Jenas chested the ball to Bentley, who took one touch to keep the ball in the air before unleashing a 40-yard volley which swerved over Manuel Almunia.
Goal: David Bentley (13) – Tottenham 1-0 Arsenal
Van Persie then went close twice, going wide from the edge of the area each time, the first with a free-kick and the second after Theo Walcott laid the ball back.
Gallas also went close, this time after the type of fumble from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes that has become commonplace. The ball broke to Gallas but the finish cleared the crossbar.
Wenger appeared frustrated on the bench as Spurs clattered into challenges and the hosts tried to convert their possession to an equaliser.
Walcott drilled straight at Gomes and Gael Clichy fired over the crossbar in their next moves.
Gomes was then at full stretch to deny Fabregas but Arsenal were level from the corner. Van Persie swung over the set-piece and Silvestre headed home as Gomes flapped.
Goal: Mikael Silvestre (37) – Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Second Half
It took Arsenal less than a minute to take the lead after the restart following a foul by Huddlestone when he hauled back Van Persie.
Van Persie took the free-kick and Gallas climbed above Vedran Corluka at the near post to head home his fourth goal of the campaign.
Goal: William Gallas (46) – Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
Sensing Spurs’ fragility at set-pieces, Silvestre almost added another from a corner, his header flashing past the upright.
There was action in all areas of the pitch, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto booked for tripping Walcott, then Redknapp sent on Lennon for Bale to inject some pace.
Bentley also picked up a caution for a reckless tackle on Clichy, while Huddlestone went in the notebook for blocking the same player.
Adebayor flashed wide from the edge of the area, but he made no mistake when Arsenal broke in the 64th minute.
Van Persie sent Samir Nasri through to lob Gomes, with Adebayor beating Alan Hutton to the ball to force it home.
Goal: Emmanuel Adebayor (64) – Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
Darren Bent was sent on and managed to pull a goal back after Huddlestone’s drive was not held cleanly by Almunia – it didn’t appear to be the Spaniard’s day either.
Goal: Darren Bent (67) – Arsenal 3-2 Tottenham
Just 84 seconds later, Van Persie restored the two-goal advantage in the next move. Hutton’s sloppy pass was picked up by Adebayor, who fed the impressive Van Persie to lash home.
Goal: Robin van Persie (68) – Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham
That looked like game over but Jenas found the top corner with a minute of time remaining, a crisp finish which left Almunia with no chance. It was game on, and Arsenal knew it.
Goal: Jermaine Jenas (89) – Arsenal 4-3 Tottenham
Jenas’ goal set up a frantic finale in which Arsenal needed to keep the ball for the four minutes of added stoppage time. Spurs went on a late attack, Modric smashed the post with a fearsome effort on the edge of the box, England winger Aaron Lennon capitalised by tapping the ball past Almunia.
Goal: Aaron Lennon (90 + 3) – Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham
Redknapp’s first week in charge just gets better and better. Spurs remain bottom of the Premier League but the comeback proved Cesc Fabregas wrong after he said Arsenal’s ladies team would give Redknapp’s men a run for their money.
The full time whistle was blown to a chorus of Arsenal boos, and Spurs pandemonimum. Are Arsenal’s title hopes over? Games coming up against Manchester United and Chelsea will certainly tell us that.
Gooner Talk’s Man of the Match – Robin van Persie: Outstanding performance from the tricky Dutchman. Completely tore Spurs apart with his quick footwork and clever decision making. His best game so far this season, and a well taken goal.
we wont win the EPL this year I am totally shocked for such arrogant display in the last 10 minutes and it was not Almunias fault
Im a very angry gooner becoz based on tonights perfromance the arse are not up 4 the title and i reckon our best chance of silveware is the european cup/Fa cup.And What was clichy thinking in the 89th min, my god that was appaling!!!.
There is no way on earth Chelsea or Manchester United would let a 2 goal lead go with about 5 minutes left.
How many teams in the last few years have won a trophy without a specialist defensive midfielder?
This bunch of players will win nothing. Absolutely nothing.
watd fu##….the midfielders+defenders just walked around and had a nice day…shit
you like watching videos Arsene, watch the last 5 mins of that game, experience fucking counts and we aint got any for fuck sakes
path fuckin etic!
winning nuffin yet a fuckin gen!
only in october an its game over already!
get a fuckin grip!
Oh Boy I Really HAD a stronge Believe that we can win the EPL This Season, News Flash After What I Have seen Tonight , i know its Harsh to say but I don’t see That Happening this Season , and comes the next season with a complete Different Squad cause most of ours First times being sold… i Really am sooo Pissed Off …. How on Earth of letting a game like this winning 4-2 comes the end of the game with a point i Mean GOODNESS ME???!!!
What we saw today is a repeat of Arsenal-Fener without Almunia’s heroics. This team is amazing going forward. The defense did ok for most of the match. The midfield was soft. Clichy’s mistake undid all the good work already done. The substitutions did not help either. there are many things that needs to be fixed before we can become a disciplined team. We cannot afford to joke around for even a second of the 90+minutes. The sooner the likes of Clichy, Song,Diaby and Ebuoe realize this the better. i am totally gutted by this draw
the body language once they went up with so little time was horrible. Arsene had no business taking Theo off, for Eboue. He rrepresented threat and Clichy going dumb on the ball when a six year old knows in that area CLEAR IT! I have to agree it will be hard for this bunch of kids to win anything but lollypops. Oh yea and Fabregas talking head like that should know he has received a come uppance!
Song coming on all smiley at the end showed how naive we are. We wont win the title with him as our ONLY defensive midfielder. If that was Gilberto he would have sat infront of the defence and closed the game down
It was the most disgusting play I ever saw of Arsenal. Alumunia was psychologicaly beaten when the first goal hovered past him. He should have been immediately replaced. Another unlucky mistake was that of clichy when he recklessly took much time to pass it on. The defensive were disastrous as was seen during spurs second goal. The ball deflected from Alumunia. Gallas was not near to prevent.
Arsenal should be strong in spirit and should manage to save the victory they achieved
The only way to get experienced is to have experiences. This team has so much quality it can afford hiccups like this. Y’all need to lighten up and enjoy the ride a young, BUT EXCEEDINGLY BRILLIANT, team gives from time to time. They’ll be more ruthless next time. You can see the edge in the performances are becoming more consistent. Finishing will become more clinical through November and December. This team rocks. Tottenham isn’t of the same statosphere and was flat out, unequivocably lucky to get a draw. Lighten up and have fun. It’s a hell of a ride. I’d like to see Nasri play with Cesc in CM and Diaby on the wing.
Young team + low wages + high ticket prices = happy shareholder – any change of winning title (or anything else).
we are weak thro the middle in centre mid and centre defence, opposition just alowed to stroll around in there unattended