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Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Arsenal

  • Aaron Ramsey flicks home Hector Bellerin's pass on 38 minutes.
  • Francis Coquelin sent off for second booking.
  • Toby Alderweireld equalises with third goal of the season.
  • Harry Kane curls home a stunner to put Tottenham in front.
  • Alexis Sanchez scores first goal since November to level.
Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez levelled to give Arsenal a point at Tottenham. Getty Images

Full time: Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal

A fine game at White Hart Lane ends and neither side will be overly content after both throwing away opportunities to take all three points. Aaron Ramsey put the Gunners ahead and they were comfortable until Francis Coquelin's red card saw them reduced to 10 men. Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane scored in as many minutes to put Spurs on course for victory but Alexis Sanchez levelled as the points were shared. Advantage Leicester City? You would think so.

Well that is all we have time for from north London. we have live coverage of the 3pm kick-offs including Chelsea vs Stoke here, but until next time goodbye.

BT Sport has become the scourge of the internet as their feed temporarily goes down. We're back and Arsenal almost win it but Ramsey is denied by Wimmer's tackle.

Into four added minutes at White Hart Lane.

Gabriel almost puts through his own goal with a horrible clearance which loops onto the roof of his own net. Incredible moment in an increasingly thrilling game.

Free-kick for Arsenal around 25 yards from goal and it is pushed clear by Lloris. Both teams going for the win here.

David Ospina to the rescue again as he keeps out Eriksen's dipping effort with an acrobatic save. Spurs piling on the pressure.

Mathieu Flamini on for Danny Welbeck. Arsenal have something to defend and it looks like that will be the policy in the closing minutes.

That is frankly unbelievable that Dier has escaped being sent off there. We should be 10 vs 10 in these last eight minutes. Ryan Mason's shot is deflected wide as Tottenham look to re-take the lead for a second time.

Eric Dier somehow escapes a second booking for first hauling down Giroud and then tackling him to the floor. Michael Olivier refrains from dishing out any punishment. Amazing decision in such a big game.

Goal: Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

A goal out of nothing and Arsenal are level at the Lane. Spurs are caught a little high and Sanchez collects the ball goal-side of Mousa Dembele and finds the corner. Will there be another twist?

Olivier Giroud getting ready to come on for Arsenal, though it is the action of another of their Frenchman in Francis Coquelin which has swung both this game and the title in the direction of Mauricio Pochettino's men. On such minor details do title races hinge.

Eric Dier now denied by Ospina. Arsenal hanging on for dear life here.

Goal: Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (Harry Kane)

And just like that Spurs are level and what a goal by their premier marksman. Dele Alli pickpockets Mertesacker and backheels the ball to Kane, who comes inside and hits a stunner beyond Ospina from a tight angle in off the post. Stunning comeback.

Goal: Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal (Toby Alderweireld)

Tottenham advantage of their numerical supremacy almost immediately. Erik Lamela beats Gabriel to a corner and Alderweireld hammers home the loose ball. Arsenal have fallen apart.

Spurs have been reinvigorated by that red card and they come within a millimeter of levelling. Harry Kane peels to the back post and takes the ball down, shoots and Ospina - curiously far behind his line - palms it clear. Replays show the ball was fractions from being completely over the line such was the Colombian's awkward positioning. Over half an hour remaining.

Bit moment in this far and the title race. Francis Coquelin is given a second booking for a crazy challenge on Harry Kane down on the touchline. Mad decision from the Frenchman, who was booked for handball in the opening 45 minutes.

Red card: Francis Coquelin (Arsenal)

Slow start to the half but Tottenham spring the first attack when Kyle Walker waltzes through and forces a good save from Ospina.

Players out for the second half and we're under way in a pivotal 45 minutes in determining the destination of the title. No changes at the break.

Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal

This Premier League season continues to baffle. Arsenal lead Tottenham at the break through Aaron Ramsey after a half in which for long periods they were second best. Spurs controlled the first half an hour but from the visitors' first shot on target they took the lead. Mauricio Pochettino looks seething on the touchline and he will demand better in what is now a pivotal second half.

Danny Rose takes aim from 25 yards and it goes hopelessly wide. An effort which looks hopeless from the outset. Half time approaching.

Welbeck's turn to spurn an opportunity as his flicked header finds the gloves of Lloris. Spurs have unraveled here and have lost complete control of a game in which they were totally in the ascendancy.

The Gunners threaten again as Danny Welbeck escapes clear again but his first touch lets him down and Tottenham clear. The visitors go again but Welbeck can't make contact with Sanchez's cross.

Goal: Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (Aaron Ramsey)

Arsenal have been tight and compact in this opening 38 minutes and now they have a lead to defend. Danny Welbeck gets away from Wimmer and tees up Bellerin, who instead of shooting plays the ball inside to Ramsey who delightfully flicks the ball goalwards beyond Hugo Lloris.

A rare attack from Arsenal ends with a corner for the visitors but the ball fails to beat the first man. Tottenham very comfortable.

Tottenham having to go long as Arsenal's press intensifies; a sign they have got to their north London rivals in the opening third of this game. Wenger's side have been compact if not at all threatening so far.

Booking for Francis Coquelin for a blatant handball as he tried to prevent Eric Dier escaping through the middle.

Yellow card for Erik Lamela for hauling back Danny Welbeck as the England man looked to latch onto a long goal-kick from Ospina. That Lamela chance really highlights how little we have seen of Arsenal in this opening 30 minutes.

First chance and naturally it comes for Spurs. Eriksen fizzes a cross in and Lamela, though it is uncertain what he knew about it, directs it goalwards and Ospina gets down to his right to make a fine low save.

Must be said it remains a very scrappy game though there is an intensity to it. Arsenal have made an ideal start and are well set up to run Tottenham close in this game. Alexis Sanchez has been a very quiet start it must be said, in-keeping with his form since his return from injury.

Some reports emerging of some violent clashes between both sets of fans outside White Hart Lane before today's game. More on that when we get it. In other news, no repeat yet of the scenes from the League Cup game earlier in the season when Arsenal fans dissembled the away end and tore down signs. Football fans never fail to disappoint.

Still all Tottenham as far as the possession is concerned by without much width it is very congested in the midfield area and it is hard for the likes of Eriksen and Lamela to pick holes in this makeshift Arsenal back four. Danny Welbeck already very isolated in attack.

Harry Kane scored a double in this fixture last season and he is straight into the action here, first tested Ospina with a whipped shot before having his effort deflected over for a corner. All the pressure coming from the home side in the opening eight minutes.

Spurs almost catch Arsenal unawares from a quick Harry Kane throw as Dele escapes in behind but he can't reign the ball in and Gibbs clears.

Under way at White Hart Lane.

So will it be a day for Kane, Alli and Erikson; or Ozil, Sanchez and Welbeck? Teams in the tunnel at White Hart Lane where there is a ferocious atmosphere.

Hard to deny that is anything but the biggest north London derby in the modern era. These teams have either been battling at either ends of the table or for at best a top four spot. Today the title is on the line, and given how accustomed we have been to entertainment in these games will the pressure hinder either side?

Arsene Wenger on BT Sport: "I can't remember [a bigger north London derby]. I think we won the championship here but it is certain one or two of the most important games. I think [Arsenal's problems] have been a bit exaggerated, in front of goal we laced confidence but we know if the confidence is jaded you can still play well. We play every few days so you try to freshen up. [Monreal] has a slight calf problem."

Perhaps the most notable piece of team news, and one we knew prior to today's game, is the absence of Petr Cech. The Arsenal 'keeper aggravated a calf problem while running back after going forward for a late corner against Swansea and is out for the next four weeks. Fans of the Gunners might be fearful with David Ospina set to deputise, but the statistics show it might not be all doom and gloom. My article here will explain all.

This would explain his surprise omission....

There are still nine games remaining in the Premier League after today's game, so how pivotal is it in the context of the title race? Tottenham start the day three points adrift of leaders Leicester and can go top on goal difference for at least a few hours before Claudio Ranieri's side face Watford in the teatime kick-off. Arsenal meanwhile are almost guaranteed to finish the day in third, but there proximity to the top could become giant. The Gunners are six points behind Leicester, three adrift of Spurs and can go level on points with their north London rivals with a win. Alternatively, a third straight league loss could leave Arsene Wenger's side nine points off the top, and with just a one-point cushion in the race for a Champions League place by the end of the weekend.

One correction from that original team news in that Kieran Gibbs starts at left-back in place of Nacho Monreal. Wenger has really freshened things up but you can't deny he has sprung some surprises.

Bar long-term injury victim Jan Vertonghen, Spurs are full strength today so the really interesting team news comes from Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny has barely featured since his January move from FC Basel but today has the responsibility of shepherding the hosts' attack. Danny Welbeck has plenty of responsibility on his shoulders too as he leads the attack in a central position, a role he has rarely occupied for the Gunners.

Few gremlins in the system so apologies for the delay in bringing you that team news.

Tottenham are all-but full strength after Dembele and Alli come through late fitness tests to start. Erik Lamela also starts ahead of Nacer Chadli.

Arsenal give a full debut to Mohamed Elneny in midfield, Aaron Ramsey starts on the right and Danny Welbeck begins in attack ahead of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.

Teams:

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Kane

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Elneny, Coquelin, Sanchez, Ramsey, Ozil, Welbeck

What can we expect from today's game? Anything, is the simple answer to that question. This season has defied logic from start to finish, so whatever you're expecting the opposite is almost certainly likely.

Both team should be confirmed in the next few minutes, but before then let's hae a look at how we expect both sides to line-up.

Tottenham are sweating over the fitness of midfield pair Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele, who both face fitness tests on the morning of the game.

Arsenal are without goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender Laurent Koscielny. Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla remain sidelined.

The build-up has been rich in hyperbole but there is little doubting the enormity of today's game. Tottenham host Arsenal not in a clash for a top four spot, but with the title tantalisingly within both side's grasp. The pair were defeated in mid-week and have injury problems heading into this game, which the natural spice of a north London mean this game has all the ingredients to be one of the games of the season. Can Pochettino puts Spurs back on track? Will Wenger survive the axe? All those answers so much more are on the way. Teams news from White Hart Lane is imminent.