MONDAY 18TH DECEMBER, 2000 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Rebrov, 31 Vieira, 90
Attendance:- 36,062
Referee:- J. Winter
Spurs (3-5-2):- Sullivan; Perry, Campbell, Thelwell; Carr, Anderton, Sherwood, King, Clemence; Rebrov (sub Armstrong, 81), Ferdinand
Subs not used:- Walker; Freund; Doherty, Leonhardsen
Booked:- Ferdinand (dissent); Sherwood (foul)
Arsenal (4-4-2):- Manninger; Dixon, Keown, Adams, Silvinho; Ljungberg, Parlour, Grimandi (sub Bergkamp, 62), Pires (sub Vieira, 62); Kanu (sub Wiltord, 71), Henry
Subs not used:- Lukic; Luzhny
Booked:- Pires (foul)
Another
89th minute equalizer!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaagh - Jammy gits, but we have Sully to
thank for a brilliant string of saves.
The 127th League
encounter was played in driving rain on a mild night at White Hart Lane. Spurs
welcomed back Anderton for Freund after suspension and Rebrov for Armo after
recovering from injury. The Goons had Viera on the bench and started with a
modest line up which included Manninger, Dixon, Grimandi and Parlour. There was
nothing to be afraid of in the Arse line up and this was definitely a game we
could win The crowd were treated video clips of great derby matches in the past
to the really loud tune of the Omen/Old Spice advert (Il Fortuna) before the
Inspurations kicked in.
The game had its usual frenetic
opening with both side creating half chances. In the first minute a long
Arsenal free kick is comfortably cleared by the Spurs defence. While at the
other end Rebrov had a fierce long-range shot deflected wide for a corner which
Arsenal clear.
After seven minutes as the game
settled down, Pires fired a low cross to Ray "gypo" Parlour on the
edge of the Spurs box. Parlour lays off to Kanu whose shot was saved by Neil
Sullivan - the first of many.
The rejuvenated Ferdinand is
everywhere contesting everything, although the timing of his leaps could be
improved upon, and he forced Manninger in the Arsenal goal to quickly kick the
ball out of play as closes down another Arsenal back-pass.
The five man Spurs midfield was
coping well with the dubious quality of Parlour and Grimandi in the Arse
midfield and Carr and Anderton we playing Pires and Silvinho especially well.
After about 10 minutes, the ever dangerous Henry sent a 25-yard dipping shot
wide, and soon after sends another shot wide after Kanu had won the ball from
Perry on the right-hand edge of the box as Arsenal attack the Paxton end.
After about 20 minutes Anderton
burst through the middle of the Arsenal midfield and chose to smash a long
range low skidding shot that Manninger did well to gather rather than play the
ball wide to the left where Clemence had taken up an excellent position in
acres of space.
Soon after Spurs were awarded a
free kick 30 yards out and Anderton attempted hit a powerful dipping shot that
was just too high. A Ljungberg cross was only half-cleared by an under pressure
Carr but fortunately it only fell to Parlour who blasted his shot high into the
Paxton with appropriate derision. In a good spell for the Goons Perry has to be
alert to head to safety from a Henry cross on a counter attack.
Spurs responded with Anderton
having his third long range attempt on the Arsenal goal within 10 minutes,
forcing Manninger into another save. Despite the game being quite open, I got
the feeling that, as many other Derby matches, this could be decided by the
only goal., so I was delighted when we took the lead a minute later.
A good interchange of passes
between Rebrov and Carr sent the latter to the right by-line in front of the
Arsenal fans in the corner of the Park Lane. Carr managed to get his deep cross
in under pressure from Silvinho. The ball reached Clemence who cushioned headed
it back out to Anderton on the edge of the box. The ball would n't come down quickly
enough for Shaggy but he managed to get a powerful shot in that Manninger beat
away only for Rebrov to come flying in to head home from about 12 yards. The
Lane went wild.
Some Goons protested that
Ferdinand and Sherwood were in an offside position when Anderton took his shot,
but it’s arguable whether they were interfering with play - and anyway the ref
gave it and that's all that matters!! 1-0 to the Tottenham sang the crowd as
Spurs enjoyed their best period of the match to halftime. Ferdinand got booked
for complaining too much about the persistent fouling by the Donkey and Monkey
face
No changes at half time, but the
Goons came out very purposefully with Henry setting up Grimandi with a left
sided cross, but this was the easiest of many saves for Sullivan in the second
half. Soon after much more was asked of Sullivan as he produced an excellent
low save to his right to deny Henry from a close range.
I was concerned that by
defending deep we were encouraging Arsenal on to us, as we had done at Bradford
with such disastrous consequences, but this time it did seem the most effective
way to deal with the threat of Henry's pace on the greasy surface. Wenger rose
from the dugout to deliver more tactical changes and the crowd sang "go
and sit down if you're a paedophile" and gave a great cheer when he
returned to the bench.
Spurs best chance at the start
of the second half came when Anderton was released on the right hand side of
the penalty area, and he delivered another of his excellent low crosses which Sherwood
is first of the on rushing players to reach, but unfortunately he could not
turn his sliding shot inside the post.
Near tragedy at the other end as
Sully next great save is from a strange back header from Perry who was under no
immediate pressure. Sully gave him "the stare" after this. Soon after
Henry had yet another attempt, but shot straight at Sully with the defence
doing the rest of the clearing.
Pires got the welcome to White
Hart Lane he deserved when a fan in the lower shelf threw the ball at him
really hard and after an altercation with the supporters and a bit of winding
up by Sherwood, Pires managed to get himself booked for a crude challenge on
the latter.
I thought another goal now would
have sealed it for Tottenham and it was the excellent Carr who nearly delivered
this after dazzling the Goons on one of his buccaneering runs he shot badly
over the bar - probably the first time he has not scored or gone close from
that position. He had a similar position later in the match and chose to cross,
probably as a reaction to his poor shot.
Wenger brought on Vieira and
Bergkamp on the hour mark for the agitated Pires and the useless Grimandi. This
substitution changed the balance of the match as Bergkamp was very creative in
his behind the front two role and Viera added to extra drive to the midfield.
Sullivan came into his own in
this period of play as he first saved Henry's diagonal shot from just outside
the corner of the area and then again from the same player after he'd latched
on to a Bergkamp through ball and out-paced the Spurs defence. On the 70 minute
mark the ball fell for Bergkamp on the right side of the area - my mind flashed
to the goal he scored for Holland against Argentina in the 98 World Cup, but
Sullivan saved brilliantly and Henry could not control the rebound as the open
goal beckoned and Spurs got away with a goal kick.
With Arsenal in the ascendancy,
Wenger introduced Wiltord for the increasingly marginalized Kanu, but while
Wenger had used all of his options, Graham chose not to bring on Freund to
counter the greater attacking threat of Arsenal - a major blunder in my
opinion.
A dubious free kick against
Sherwood was blasted straight at the Spurs wall from 20 yards out by Henry.
Ferdinand received lengthy treatment for a head injury - which seems to be a
regular occurrence for Les and prompts Graham to try and substitute him, but as
Les walked dejectedly off, Graham realised Les was still up for it and
cancelled the introduction of Armo.
Another close shave followed as
a Ljungberg 25-yard left-foot shot grazed the side netting much to everyone's
relief.. Armo is eventually brought on - this time for Rebrov who received a
standing ovation from the Spurs crowd.
Campbell managed a great saving
tackle as a Goon was through on goal in the last 10 minutes , but the pressure
from Arsenal seemed to have died down as full time approached. In the 89th
minute Arsenal won a corner after Sullivan had to be alert to save from Adams
at the back post. Viera pushed Ferdinand out of the way and rose unchallenged
to finally beat Sully. Our hearts sank - a battling performance robbed of
victory at the last by the lucky old Arsenal.
Four minutes of injury time were given by Arsenal seemed content to hang on for their point and one of the better derby matches was drawn
Sullivan 10/10 - a faultless display of outstanding saves from all the goons and even a back header from Perry! - one of the best goalkeeping performances from a Spurs keeper for years
Thelwell - 7/10 - again rose to the occasion with another battling display. Campbell - 8/10 - brilliant at the back, with a great saving tackle in the second half Perry - 6/10 - struggles against the better teams but put in some important tackles and was generally solid
Carr - 7/10 - Kept Silvinho quiet and had a decent match Anderton 6/10 - Could never dominate the midfield but played some good passes and one of his first half shots led to the goal King - 7/10 - another fine display from Ledley - winning tackles and good passes - who must be one of the first names on the team sheet Sherwood - 6/10 - a decent match from Sherwood, but you wonder if he's currently in Rebrov's best position Clemence - 6/10 - Not the same impact as his brilliant game against the goons last season but did his bit on the left
Rebrov 6/10 - took his goal well, and one brilliant flick in the first half, but failed to get in the game enough Ferdinand - 7/10 - another good display from Les who was a handful for Monkey face and Donkey Adams