Vieira denies Spurs

Spurs celebrate Rebrov's first half strike

Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal

Patrick Vieira scored a dramatic 89th minute equaliser to ensure that the North London derby ended all-square at White Hart Lane.

Vieira, on as a second half substitute rose to head a Silvinho corner past the outstanding Neil Sullivan, just as Arsenal's second half onslaught looked set to prove fruitless.

Spurs had taken the lead on 31 minutes through Rebrov's sixth goal of the season despite Arsenal pleas for offside.

Stephen Carr's deep right wing cross was cushioned back into the path of Darren Anderton by Stephen Clemence and though Manninger pushed the England man's drive away the ball fell into the path of Rebrov.

Second half fightback

The Ukrainian threw himself at the loose ball to power a downward header past the Austrian keeper.

Arsenal, looking to capitalise on Man United's weekend defeat, stormed back in the second half but were thwarted by some outstanding goalkeeping from Sullivan.

The former Wimbledon man made a great stop with his right hand to deny Henry after the Frenchman looked certain to level the score.

Parlour ran on to a Pires through ball, laid it back to Henry and after he turned inside Perry he directed a low shot to Sullivan's right but the Scottish keeper pushed the effort away.

Rebrov had given Spurs a first half lead

The same duo were involved in direct battle once again soon after. Henry ran on to a ball in behind the home defence but saw his effort blocked by Sullivan with Perry just beating Parlour to the loose ball.

Henry then forced an even greater save from the Spurs keeper on 67 minutes as Arsenal's incessant pressure continued.

Good fortune

This time Sullivan saved with his left hand as Henry shot from the Arsenal left looked destined for the bottom left corner of the Spurs goal.

With Bergkamp, Vieira and Wiltord all introduced into the action Arsene Wenger had thrown everything at George Graham's side but Sullivan continued to defy them.

He pushed away a fierce volley from Bergkamp and deserved the good fortune that saw the ball break to safety off Henry.

However, Vieira's late strike did gain the reward that the visitors' second half display merited.

Tottenham had enjoyed the greater share of first half possession but as the rain fell steadily both sides were unable to create many opportunities.

Anderton was behind much of Tottenham's best work and he forced Manninger into a diving save just before Rebrov struck.

Arsenal's best opportunites of the first period came through a Parlour volley from the edge of the area that cleared Sullivan's crossbar following a fine cross from Ljungberg and an Henry shot into the side netting.

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Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Campbell, Perry, Anderton, Sherwood, Ferdinand, Rebrov, Clemence, King, Thelwell.
Subs: Walker, Freund, Doherty, Leonhardsen, Armstrong.

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Pires, Ljungberg, Henry, Parlour, Silvinho, Grimandi, Kanu.
Subs: Vieira, Bergkamp, Wiltord, Luzhny, Lukic.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)