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29 min Saka wriggles away from Hojbjerg, making room for a shot, but then slips in the act of shooting. Spurs can’t handle him. In the last few months, Saka has played at a scarily high level – to my admittedly slightly dodgy eyes, he’s the player that most people think Phil Foden is.
28 min Sessegnon slips Saka neatly on the left, but he’s well challenged by the covering defender – Nketiah, of all people.
27 min “I’m back if you’ll have me,” says Joe Pearson. “The feed has frozen (apparently around the world)! Aagh!”
Really? How bizarre. I’m getting it just fine in Bruton.
26 min Arsenal have been fantastic so far – so relaxed, confident and stylish. With every passing game, they look a little more like the real deal.
25 min “Arsenal don’t have to worry about Man City,” says Jeff Sachs. “City are finished for the season; Pep’s interview yesterday said it all. His tiki-taka doesn’t fool anyone anymore and it does not result in goals.”
I’ll keep this email in storage, just in case.
24 min: Partey almost destroys the post! Did Lloris touch this? I think he did you know.
Er, no he didn’t. After another desperate Spurs clearance the ball dropped out of the sky towards Partey, on the edge of the D, and he twisted his body to whistle a spectacular volley that beat the flying Lloris and thumped the top of the right post. That would have been a helluva goal.
23 min Saka’s deep corner is brilliantly headed away by Doherty, under all sorts of pressure from Saliba (I think).
22 min: Good save from Lloris! Saka lays the ball back to Odegaard, in all sorts of space 25 yards out. He pushes the ball infield and hammers a dipping shot that Lloris, diving low to his left, paws round the post. That’s a really good save because I think he saw it late.
22 min “I know that Lloris has pulled off some amazing saves with all kinds of bodily contortions,” says Charles Antaki, “but managing to push the ball behind you into your own goal, while facing forwards, might well be a first. Arsenal fans will be celebrating him on all kinds of social media.”
I’d love to have seen Spurs supporter (and Spurs hater) Roy Keane’s coupon when it happened.
20 min After good play from Saka, Nketiah’s low cross is desperately cleared in the six-yard box, I think by Dier. Arsenal look so dangerous when they attack down the Spurs left.
18 min: Big save from Ramsdale! Dier pings a long pass to Sessegnon, who chases his own errant first touch across the line of the penalty area. Then he turns and plays a really cute reverse pass behind the Arsenal defence. Kulusevski leaves it, knowing he’s offside, and Son comes from deep to hook a first-time shot back across goal. Ramsdale is quickly out and spreads himself to make an excellent stop.
18 min The bad news for Spurs is that they’re behind. The good news for Spurs is that they’re behind, so they can start playing now. And if they go 2-0 down, they’ll be feral.
17 min “Thanks, Chris Paraskevas, for invoking Gareth Bale’s name,” writes Matt Dony. “I’ve spent the last week thinking of little else other than the whole he leaves in the landscape of Welsh football. I genuinely don’t know what will happen. As a youngster in a Spurs shirt, he did things that barely seemed possible. In a Madrid shirt, he did more, scored more goals, created more goals, than many revisionists will admit.
“Yes, he’d obviously declined, but his influence and presence for Wales were huge. Even as the most expensive player in the world, he made playing for Wales look and feel like a kickabout at Pontcanna Fields. A group of mates, taking on the world. The tremendous strength of that team was its togetherness. The atmosphere seemed amazing. And Bale was an enormous part of that, in personality as much as ability. The greatest Welshman I’ve ever seen play the game, likely the greatest ever. And it’s over. No, you’re crying!”
Beautifully put. I’d love to feel that kind of patriotism, just for one day. And if any of you haven’t read it, Elis James’ tribute is a gem.
Partey clipped a lovely pass down the right to find Saka in space. He moved into the area and teased Sessegnon before zipping outside him towards the byline. Then Saka hit a right-footed cross that took a slight deflection off Sessegnon and was fumbled into his own net by Lloris. It came at him quickly, and there was a deflection, but that’s still a bad mistake I’m afraid.
GOAL! Spurs 0-1 Arsenal (Lloris og 15)
Arsenal take the lead with a bizarre goal!
12 min Partey is exceedingly fortunate to avoid a yellow card for a deliberate handball that stops a Spurs break. That’s weird refereeing from Craig Pawson, because he gave a free-kick.
11 min Odegaard flips a decent free-kick that is headed over from 10 yards by Partey. A half chance.
10 min Arsenal are starting to pin Spurs back. Nketiah is fouled 30 yards from goal, to the left of centre, and Odegaard is over the ball…
9 min Martinelli charges into the area at dizzying speed and goes over after a challenge from Romero (I think). Nobody really appeals for a penalty.
7 min: Chance for Arsenal! Spurs get in an almighty pickle trying to play the ball out of their own penalty area. Lloris dithers, then Lenglet kicks the ball straight at Odegaard. It rebounds to Martinelli, who hooks it over his shoulder and across the area. Romero slips, which allows Nketiah a clear shot at goal from about eight yards. He hits the dropping ball with his left foot, not that cleanly in truth, and Lloris spreads himself to make a really good stop. That was a great chance.
6 min “I think Arsenal might win today which would of course give a painful amount of hope,” says Andrew Hurley. “I think it’s almost impossible to win the league with only seven players trusted for the six midfielder and forward roles, and running out of legs in March for Saka, Martinelli et al a distinct possibility. Smith-Rowe could make a big difference but they need two more players, one in particular to cover Partey, whose value is so underestimated by the media.”
Not by this one-man media! I’ve been obsessed with him for years. If you were in the Champions League I’d agree with you about Arsenal running out of steam. It could still happen but the Europa League reduces the risk. I’d be more worried about Arteta blowing up if it gets tight. The way to win it – like, duh – is to keep City at arm’s length. In a strange way I think you’re more likely to win it by 10 points than by one or two.
4 min After a patient build-up from Arsenal, Martinelli wriggles between Kulusevski and Doherty and pokes a shot that is blocked.
3 min “Good evening Rob,” writes Jones Manoah. “An expectant Gooner from Nairobi. Seeing my beloved Arsenal were ‘bullied’ by Chelsea today, here’s hoping they boss it here just to show Mudryk what he’s missing out on.”
2 min Spurs play confidently through the Arsenal press, with Son finding Sessegnon in space on the left. His cross is blocked.
2 min No tactical surprises – Spurs are playing 5-2-3, Arsenal 4-1-2-3.
1 min “Was in London back in 2013,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Bumped into a travelling group of Greek Spurs fans who were down for the derby that weekend. I joined their group. Two of us didn’t have tickets but were allowed in to a nearby pub after pleading our case. Spurs fans are fierce and the area around White Hart Lane was surprisingly rough aesthetically. But I had an incredible experience - Bale scored the winner and the riot police moved everyone on, eventually. Great memories! (From an energised Newcastle fan in Sydney.)”
1 min Eddie Nketiah gets the north London derby under way.
“Good morning from Pittsburgh!” says Eric Peterson. “ This is the earliest all season that I’ve sat my backside down in front of the TV and waited through the pregame hullabaloo for the kickoff. Arsenal are good at burying teams in the first half hour. Spurs are good at not showing up until they (a) fall behind, (b) come out for the second half, or (c) both. Not a fixture for which to be fashionably late.”
Yes that’s an excellent point. Arsenal actually started really positively in May, too, before the whole thing unravelled.
Here come the players. The atmosphere sounds good – not quite as lively as it was for the evening game last season, but still pretty hostile.
A reminder of the teams
Tottenham Hotspur (5-2-3) Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Sessegnon; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Davies, Perisic, Skipp, Bissouma, Gil, Richarlison.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey; Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Smith, Marquinhos.
Referee Craig Pawson.
Antonio Conte on Pape Sarr’s inclusion
He’s a young player, a good prospect, and he deserves this chance.
Mikel Arteta speaks
[Discipline] is a key element of every derby. Both teams have been a man down in the last two derbies, and it will be crucial. We’ve prepared well and we want this – a lot.
Dejan Kulusevski’s pre-match chat
I think are we ready to play and now we need to show it. We need to enjoy it – attack, do everything together, have fun.
Remember When (part 2)
A reminder of the return game in October, when Arsenal deservedly beat Spurs 3-1.
Remember When (part 1)
The 2pm games have just finished, and these are the final scores.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
That means Spurs are now five points behind Newcastle and Manchester United in the race for a Champions League place, though they have a game in hand on Newcastle. Arsenal are still five points clear of Manchester City with today’s game in hand.
And Chelsea, who introduced the Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk at half-time, are leading Crystal Palace 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
There have been fun and games in the second half at St James’ Park. John Brewin is watching that one.
No, you’re the favourite
Team news
Dejan Kulusevski returns from injury for Spurs, but there’s still no Rodrigo Bentancur. That means Pape Sarr will make his full Premier League debut in midfield, having been preferred to Oliver Skipp and the weirdly disappointing Yves Bissouma. In all there are three changes from the 4-0 win at Crystal Palace 11 days ago: Kulusevski, Sarr and Ryan Sessegnon replace Bryan Gil, Skipp and Ivan Perisic. Richarlison is also back among the substitutes.
Arsenal are unchanged from their last league game, the frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle.
Tottenham Hotspur (5-2-3) Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Sessegnon; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Davies, Perisic, Skipp, Bissouma, Gil, Richarlison.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey; Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Smith, Marquinhos.
Referee Craig Pawson.
Preamble
Age is what you make it. Spurs are one of the oldest teams in the Premier League; Arsenal are the youngest. When they last met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May, Spurs were too mature, too streetwise, too much for an emotionally ragged Arsenal. But this season Arsenal have been fresher, hungrier and more vibrant, most notably when they hammered Spurs 3-1 at the Emirates in October.
The contrast in age profile – and style of play - are among the reasons why today’s north London derby is more mouthwatering than most. Another is that Harry Kane is one away from joining Jimmy Greaves as Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer. But the big reason is the context: Arsenal have the chance to go eight points clear of an unfocussed Manchester City, while also denting Spurs’ hopes of reaching the Champions League and keeping Antonio Conte.
Spurs started the season excellently, in terms of results if not always performances, but they’ve lost their way since that trip to the Emirates in October. Going into that game they had 17 points from seven games; since then they’ve taken 16 from 11. And their home form has gone to seed, with three defeats in the last four games.
For richer and poorer, nothing changes the mood in north London quite like the result of the derby. Defeat in October blew Spurs off course; a win today could get their season back on track.
Kick off 4.30pm
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