Arsenal enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 victory over an under-strength Tottenham Hotspur team in today's emotional North London derby at Highbury. Arsenal were mourning the death of their former midfielder David Rocastle, who died last night from cancer at just 33 years of age, but it did not affect their game as they saw off the challenge of Spurs, who were being scrutinised by new manager Glenn Hoddle in the stands. Hoddle will not take over until Monday but with Arsenal next up once again in the semi-final of the FA Cup next Sunday, this North London derby had more significance than most.
However, with several first-team players out injured - including Sol Campbell, £11million striker Sergei Rebrov, midfielders Stephen Clemence and Ledley King, along with Darren Anderton, Stephen Carr, Oyvind Leonhardsen and Tim Sherwood - Spurs fielded a Premiership debutant, young centre back Anthony Gardner, and also gave starts to Simon Davies and Willem Korsten. In contrast, Arsenal's only major abstentee was Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp.
Although Spurs battled admirably right to the end, the home side deserved their victory and looked in a different class to their opponents. However, they wasted chance after chance throughout and it wasn't until three minutes from time when Thierry Henry, set up beautifully by substitute Kanu, secured the points for Arsenal with their second goal. Chris Perry tried to close down Henry but he pulled away easily and fired the ball past Neil Sullivan in the Tottenham goal.
Arsenal had to wait until the 70th minute before they could open the scoring, suggesting that come next week, with a place in the FA Cup final up for grabs, with a new boss to impress and with several top players likely to return to the Spurs line-up, the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford will see the slate wiped clean.
The breakthrough was made with a solo effort by Robert Pires. Sullivan had denied him several times during the match but he had no chance with this particular strike. Patrick Vieira flicked the ball on for Pires coming inside from the left. The Frenchman outwitted Republic of Ireland international Gary Doherty and then blasted the ball past the outstretched Sullivan into the far corner.
Arsenal are still unbeaten at home in the Premiership this season and remain in second place thanks to this win but when it comes to next weekend's FA Cup semi-final, they will be expecting an even tougher task ahead if they are to overcome their neighbours. Spurs fans will be hoping that is to be the case.
To check on the rest of today's Premiership results click here.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
