Arsenal 2 - 1 Tottenham

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Almunia Saves The Day!


Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was the Emirate's hero, when this game sprang to life in the second half. With the score at 1 - 1, he saved a penalty from the usually reliable Robbie Keane, who was having an off day. Almunia must be very well thought of to have Jens Lehmann sitting on the bench, but it serves to show what a wealth of talent his side have at their disposal.


The first half was below average and ended goalless with both sides seeming not to be at their best. Tottenham probably had the better chances, with the industrious Berbatov, and Boateng going close.


Whatever was said in the Arsenal dressing room at the break seemed to pay dividends, and it was not long before Fabregas was up to his tricks. He joined up with Rossicky, and after a slick one, two, was able to cleverly back heel the ball to Adebayor, who easily slid it past Paul Robinson, to put his side ahead after 48 minutes. The visitors should have quickly equalised but Keane's volley hit the bar. You can't really say that he was unlucky, because he should have scored.


Soon afterwards Keane made amends when he produced a copycat back heel at the other end. This time it was Berbatov who was the beneficiary, and he fired the ball home from a narrow angle, in the 66th minute. Keane then had the opportunity to clinch it after Berbatov had won a penalty, but Almunia saved his spot kick. Although it was a fine save, it was not Keane's finest hour and he might just have been lacking match fitness after suspension. Anyhow, his manager had seen enough and replaced him with Defoe after 74 minutes.


As it happened it was another substitution, this time by Arsenal that clenched the match. Bendtner came on for Eboue after 74 minutes, and his power header from a Fabregas corner kick beat Robinson in the 76th minute. So Arsenal are sure to go into Christmas leading the field, but the Spurs mini revival has been snubbed out.


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Arsenal Vs Tottenham
soccer and football
Arsenal Vs Tottenham