1-1 v Arsenal FC - 15 December 2002 - Home

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 1

Arsenal FC

Arsenal FC

1

  • Pirés
    45+1' (PEN)
Details
Match Number

6382

Opposition
Arsenal

Arsenal FC

Competition
Premier League

Premier League

Season

2002/03

Date

15th December 2002

Kick Off

14:00

Venue

White Hart Lane

Attendance

36,076

Referee

Neale Barry

League Position

7th

Opposition League Position

1st

Opposition Form

LWWWDD

Weather at Kick Off

7.8° - Rain

Facts & Milestones
  • 6349th overall match (3013 wins, 1393 draws, 1930 losses)

  • 4871st competitive match (2169 wins, 1144 draws, 1558 losses)

  • team

    242nd match vs Arsenal FC (91 wins, 54 draws, 97 losses)

  • competition

    410th Premier League match (144 wins, 112 draws, 154 losses)

  • 5850th match in England (2726 wins, 1318 draws, 1793 losses)

  • 2598th match at White Hart Lane (1522 wins, 560 draws, 516 losses)

Report

Tottenham threw away a winning ticket in the north London lottery as goalkeeper Kasey Keller gifted Arsenal an equaliser at White Hart Lane. The giant American keeper inexplicably raced off his line on the stroke of half time and pulled down Thierry Henry in the area.

Robert Pires converted the resulting penalty to snatch a point from the 132nd north London derby.

Christian Ziege's stunning 30-yard free kick had put Spurs in the driving seat on 15 minutes.

But they failed to press home their advantage and allowed Arsenal a way back into the game.

The home side started at a furious pace and Arsenal struggled to compete in the opening exchanges.

Steven Carr's passionate approach to the game suggested recent reports linking him with a move across north London were woefully wide of the mark.

And if the Spurs full-back did make a move to Highbury, it is unlikely he would end up rooming with Thiery Henry, judging by the running verbal battle the pair pursued.

In fact, there were warning signs all over the pitch for Arsenal, not least on 10 minutes when Gustavo Poyet tumbled under an innocuous challenge from Ray Parlour.

Spurs v Arsenal in pictures The Uruguayan's penalty appeals fell on deaf ears but so too did the Arsenal alarm bells as, within a minute, the home side were deservedly in front.

Sol Campbell's trip on Poyet was punished this time and Ziege lashed home the free-kick from 30 yards, his shot curling away from Seaman's reach.

The lead was no more than Spurs deserved but they should have extended their lead.

Twice Ashley Cole came to Arsenal's rescue with goal-line clearances to deny Robbie Keane.

First, he headed off the line to keep out Keane's sharp header and then he scrambled the lively striker's shot away with Seaman beaten.

Arsenal, with the injured Patrick Vieira conspicuous by his absence, were simply unable to compete with their north London rivals.

It took the Gunners 25 minutes to manage an attempt on goal, Parlour's shot deflecting off targe and Gilberto Silva heading wide from the resulting corner.

And it was almost half time before Keller was finally tested, Henry's header from a Freddie Ljungberg cross superbly pushed away.

Keller's decision-making though, was not as sharp as his reflexes.

Two minutes later, his decision to race off his line to try to outsprint the lightning quick Henry proved disastrous as the striker reached the ball first and was felled by the sliding American.

Pires gratefully accepted the early Christmas present, slotting home the spot-kick low to Keller's left to send Arsenal in level at the end of a half totally dominated by the home side.

Inevitably, the champions were lifted by that let-off, though either side could have won it in a tense second half.

Henry's dazzling feet saw him dance past three defenders before squaring for Dennis Bergkamp, whose shot was blocked by the outstanding Carr.

And Keane was again denied twice, Seaman winning a one-on-one that favoured the striker and then producing an outstanding point-blank save to keep out Keane's volley.

Location
League Table
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Arsenal
17 11 2 4 36 19 17 35
2
Manchester united
18 10 5 3 30 17 13 35
3
Chelsea
18 9 7 2 32 15 17 34
4
Everton
18 10 2 6 22 21 1 32
5
Liverpool
17 9 4 4 27 17 10 31
6
Newcastle united
17 9 2 6 27 24 3 29
7
Southampton
18 7 6 5 21 18 3 27
8
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
17 8 3 6 23 23 0 27
9
Middlesbrough
18 7 5 6 22 16 6 26
10
Blackburn rovers
18 6 6 6 24 22 2 24
11
Charlton athletic
18 7 3 8 20 22 -2 24
12
Manchester city
18 7 3 8 22 25 -3 24
13
Fulham
17 6 4 7 22 22 0 22
14
Aston villa
18 6 4 8 17 18 -1 22
15
Birmingham city
17 5 5 7 16 21 -5 20
16
Leeds united
17 5 2 10 20 25 -5 17
17
West bromwich albion
18 4 3 11 13 27 -14 15
18
Bolton wanderers
16 3 5 8 18 28 -10 14
19
Sunderland
17 3 5 9 8 23 -15 14
20
West ham united
18 3 4 11 17 34 -17 13
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Arsenal
18 11 3 4 37 20 17 36
2
Manchester united
18 10 5 3 30 17 13 35
3
Chelsea
18 9 7 2 32 15 17 34
4
Everton
18 10 2 6 22 21 1 32
5
Liverpool
18 9 4 5 28 19 9 31
6
Newcastle united
17 9 2 6 27 24 3 29
7
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
18 8 4 6 24 24 0 28
8
Southampton
18 7 6 5 21 18 3 27
9
Middlesbrough
18 7 5 6 22 16 6 26
10
Blackburn rovers
18 6 6 6 24 22 2 24
11
Charlton athletic
18 7 3 8 20 22 -2 24
12
Manchester city
18 7 3 8 22 25 -3 24
13
Birmingham city
18 6 5 7 17 21 -4 23
14
Fulham
18 6 4 8 22 23 -1 22
15
Aston villa
18 6 4 8 17 18 -1 22
16
Leeds united
18 6 2 10 23 25 -2 20
17
Sunderland
18 4 5 9 10 24 -14 17
18
West bromwich albion
18 4 3 11 13 27 -14 15
19
Bolton wanderers
17 3 5 9 18 31 -13 14
20
West ham united
18 3 4 11 17 34 -17 13
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