Arsenal 2 – 1 Spurs

It was unsurprisingly all Arsenal from the off with Flamini and Toure both having half chances that they didn’t take within the opening 5mins. It was an open game though and Spurs did gradually begin to have some attacking spells of their own.

It was at these times when Arsenal looked like they may create something on the break as Spurs were looking unusually sturdy and hard to breakdown otherwise.

A rare penetrative move, on 33mins, saw Eboue draw a save from Robinson at his near post but it was hardly vintage Arsenal.

Spurs enjoyed a good spell of possession before the break with Boateng’s dipping shot going just over the bar. Toure’s header form a corner, on 42mins, was the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock in what was a disappointing first half.

Arsenal began the second half with much greater intensity and after just two minutes they had the lead. Fabregas was at the helm of a move that tore the visitors apart and it was his back-heel that found Adebayor in the box for the Togolese striker to coolly slot home.

Arsenal didn’t really push on for a second but looked comfortable until the 64^th minute when Keane got in behind only to volley over. A minute later Spurs had an equaliser when Berbatov blasted into the roof of the net form a tight angle following some slack defending form the hosts.

Spurs were looking in confident mood following this and on 71mins they had a penalty after Toure dived in on Berbatov in the box. The resulting penalty was to change the game as Almunia denied Keane from the spot.

Just 3mins later Arsenal had a goal of their own. Bendtner, just on the pitch, rose to meet a corner kick and with his first touch powers a header past Robinson.

The home side, perhaps sensing they were riding their luck, began to play deeper following this but all Spurs could muster of note was a long range effort form Huddlestone on 84mins as they tried to go for one last push.

It wasn’t a classic but it does show that Arsenal can win whilst not at their best and that Spurs are definitely improving under Ramos