Tottenham Hotspur 2 Arsenal 1
Scorers: Van der Vaart, Walker Ramsey
Team: Friedel;
Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto; Van der Vaart (Sandro), Parker
(Corluka), Modric, Bale; Defoe, Adebayor (Livermore) Subs (unused):
Cudicini, Bassong, Pavlyuchenko, Giovani dos Santos
Kyle Walker Wins North London Derby
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| Kyle Walker - first goal for Spurs |
Kyle Walker made himself an instant Tottenham hero with his first goal for Spurs which won the north London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane. As if that wasn't enough, the very nature of the strike from thirty yards made it even more special especially as it was watched by England manager, Fabio Capello. Walker has just been given the opportunity by Spurs this season to establish himself in the first team after being on loan last year with Queen's Park Rangers and Aston Villa.
Harry
Redknapp who won the Manager of the Month award for September, restored
Jermain Defoe to the starting line-up, with Sandro dropping to the
bench. Ledley King was available to play his fourth successive league
game and looking to continue his record of being on the winning side in
his last five appearances.
For all their
publicised problems, Arsenal started the quicker, determined to put
their poor defensive performances away from home behind them. However,
they did create early difficulties for themselves by giving the ball
away but Spurs failed to take advantage especially when Scott Parker
found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. He never looked confident
and his scuffed shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the early
stages Gareth Bale saw little of the ball and Arsenal had a lot of
possession without causing Brad Friedel any real problems. Tottenham
were lethargic in their play, failing to achieve the quick tempo game
which had Liverpool reeling in the last home game. Rafael Van der Vaart missed a chance from Jermain Defoe's cross and then Gervinho shot past the post when an opportunity came
to him on the edge of the box.
Bale was
dangerous on the break with his pace but Arsenal contained him. Rafael
Van der Vaart was less effective on the right side of midfield as he
had defensive duties to perform but when he gave up on those five
minutes before the interval he controlled a chipped pass from Adebayor
to volley home , his fourth goal for Spurs in three London derbies
inside thirteen months. He also had the distinction of scoring
Tottenham's 10,000th competitive goal. There were claims that he had
used his arm to control the ball but the officials saw nothing wrong and
television evidence is inconclusive although the ball may have struck
his arm after he controlled it on his chest.
Ahead at the
interval, Spurs were not playing well and at the start of the second
half Arsenal came forward looking to get level. It took only six
minutes as they built up pressure on the Tottenham defence, a clearance
from Younes Kaboul was picked up by Song and he raided down the right
and his cross was converted by Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal deserved the goal
and went on to control in midfileld, preventing Luka Modric and Parker
from having the freedom they have enjoyed in previous weeks.
Eventually, Sandro was introduced in midfield in place of Van der Vaart
and he immediately gave Tottenham the hold they needed. He was much
more mobile and involved up and down the pitch putting Arsenal under
pressure rather than giving them time to play.
Emmanuel Adebayor,
looking to become only the second player to score for both Spurs and
Arsenal in a derby match, was the next to miss when through on the
goalkeeper but the Szczesny saved. Then with fifteen
minutes remaining, Arsenal were caught unawares at a throw in on the
left. Sandro was given too much time to cross the ball. It reached
Modric whose shot was blocked but this fell to Kyle Walker thirty yards
from goal and he hit a thunderous shot which swerved and dipped on its
way past Szczesny who got a hand to it but failed to keep it out.
Bale had a
shot wide and Defoe saw the goalkeeper make another good save.
Tottenham introduced Jake Livermore and Vedran Corluka to hold on to
their lead as five minutes added time was played.
Tottenham
will be delighted to take the three points which restores them to sixth
in the table and to have recorded their fourth consecutive win in the
League. Four wins in the four games between the two internationals
breaks after being pointless and rather despondent going into the first
one at the end of August is a remarkable recovery. They will be less
satisfied with the performance against a poor Arsenal side. Spurs now
have three wins and a draw in the last four derbies in the League
against their north London rivals.
