Tensions were high the kick-off as characteristic of a true North London derby. Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspur will always prove to be a big derby in the footballing calendar around the world. Too often a derby fails to live up to expectations living fans and pundits disappointed, but this wasn’t one of those.
It was a fine advertisement for attacking football with both teams going at each other. The game was a fast-paced, open a tremendously entertaining right from the Kick-off till the very end of the match. Arsenal was the more adventurous team throughout the game but it was Tottenham who had the first joy, netting two good goals before a roaring response from the Gunners.
Erickson with the first goal after just 10 minutes of play much to the disappointment of the home fans. The visitors take the lead after hitting the Gunners on the counter. Son released the run of Lamela through on goal and he strikes a right-footed effort towards the target which Leno could only palm straight to Erickson. The Dane accepted the gift and slots home from close range.
Harry Kane with the second on the 39th minute from the penalty spot. An Ill-timed challenge by Granit Xhaka gifted Spurs a chance to go 2:0 up as Referee did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot which he coolly slots into the lower-left corner sending Bernad Leno the wrong way.
Lacazette put one back for Arsenal on the 47th minute after a sublime dribble into the Lloris’s near post and a blast of the shot past the French shot-stopper.
Arsenal 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2, halftime.
Aubameyang equalized from close range after being put through by Gendouzi. Gendouzi put a delightful through ball which broke the defense line of the North London rivals before Aubameyang capitalized with an outstretched leg to leave Hugo Lloris for dead.
Arsenal thought they had grabbed the winner when Sokratis Papastathopoulos tapped in from the near post. But the celebration was cut off by a flag-waving assistant referee. A further VAR check shows that Sead Kolasinac was in an offside position when he received the pass from Pepe.
At the end of 90 minutes and an additional injury time of 5 minutes, it ended honours even at the Emirate stadium. Arsenal 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2
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