The north London derby never disappoints
It’s one of those fixtures that just always lives up to the hype. So intense is the hatred between the two sides, so narrow the gap in quality, that it is always a tense, hard fought encounter when Tottenham and Arsenal meet.
This afternoon was no different, as demonstrated by Eric Dier’s celebration after his equalising goal and the Arsenal players’ reaction to it.
Arsenal had taken an early lead after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted a penalty given away by the flailing arm of Jan Vertonghen. Spurs looked half asleep at this point but soon sprung into life.
Christian Eriksen whipped in a free-kick from a wide area and Eric Dier glanced it in at the near post with a deft header. The Spurs man then proceeded to shush the home support, lifting his finger to his lips.
Arsenal substitute Stephan Lichtsteiner was the first to object to this, ushering the Spurs players back onto the field.
The Spurs players did not take kindly to this.
Words were exchanged, and before you knew it, almost everyone – subs included – was getting involved in the argey bargey.
Dele Alli and Aaron Ramsey were the pair who looked closest to coming to blows. Thankfully, it was all bark and no bite.
It has been a pulsating first half at The Emirates…
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Spurs then went on to take the lead courtesy of a Harry Kane penalty after Heung-min Son was caught (or was he?) by Rob Holding.
Unai Emery made two changes at half-time, introducing Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette, giving Arsenal a bit more cutting edge in attack. Aubameyang then scored again with an audacious effort from outside the box.
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The with fifteen minutes to go, Lacazette put the home side back in front with the help of a deflection off Dier’s shin after capitalising on a Juan Foyth mistake.
Only two minutes later, Lucas Torreira made it 4-2 with his first goal for Arsenal. And what a time to score it.