Tottenham vs. Arsenal

[Gast Seriöser Bub]

Tottenham - Arsenal 2:2 (0:2)

Torschützen: 62' Redknapp, 94' Keane (pen.) bzw. 3' Vieira, 37' Pires

16.03 - Arsenal take to the pitch in their famous red and white shirts, knowing that one single point will give them their third Premiership trophy.

16.04 - A fateful afternoon for Arsenal; if they keep their unbeaten run going for just one more game, they will be Premiership champions (and rightly so). And it could all happen at White Hart Lane, the home of their most bitter rivals.

16.06 - Referee Mark Halsey prepares to get the game underway. Arsenal will kick off in this cauldron of noise. The whistle blows and the game begins!

16.08 - Spurs win the first corner of the game after Johnnie Jackson kicks the ball against Lauren. Jackson takes, and Arsenal clear upfield.

16.09 - GOAL!!! From the corner Arsenal break at speed, Bergkamp gets possession on the left and passes forward for Vieira to tap home!!!

16.10 - A lightning-fast Arsenal break; Henry started it, Bergkamp played a killer pass from the channel and Vieira met it in his stride and rolled it home!

16.15 - Arsenal win a free kick deep in their own half after Taricco crunches into Parlour.

16.16 - Bergkamp breaks down the left and has plenty of space; Henry is haring down the middle in support, but The Iceman's cut-back is cut out by Stephen Kelly.

16.18 - After that blistering start the game has slowed down now. Arsenal have the clear advantage and, confident in their defensive abilities and knowing they can score on the break, will allow Spurs to come forward.

16.20 - Pires breaks down the right and cuts back for Henry, but the striker's first touch is poor and he loses possession.

16.23 - Spurs being allowed more of the ball and are looking more purposeful - but they haven't managed to prise open the Arsenal defence yet. Arsenal counter-attack through Ashley Cole down the left, he tries to thread a long diagonal ball forward for Henry but Gardner reads it well and snuffs out the attack.

16.27 - With the sole exception of Kasey Keller picking the ball out of his net, neither goalkeeper has been made to work yet.

16.27 - Spurs win a free kick 35 yards out in front (and slightly on Arsenal's right) of the goal. Keane plays a dummy, Redknapp fires low under the Arsenal wall and Lehmann drops smartly to gather.

16.31 - Pires and King tussle for possession on Arsenal's left; Pires wins and Arsenal get the throw, but Spurs pick it up and play goes on.

16.33 - Taricco has a shot from the right corner of Arsenal's box; Lehmann expects a cross and comes off his line, Taricco's shot beats him but skims the top of the bar. Spurs' best chance so far.

16.34 - Arsenal have their first corner, on their right. Pires will take it - straight to Keller.

16.36 - Campbell has to head the ball behind for a corner after Keane almost gets onto a long pass. The corner from Jackson sails across goal and out of play.

16.37 - Kanoute trys an overhead bicycle kick, but puts it wide of the upright.

16.41 - GOAL!!! Arsenal make it 2-0 at The Lane! Another cute pass from Bergkamp finds Vieira on the left, his cut-back takes a kind deflection off of Brown and Pires is in front of goal and taps it home!

16.42 - Another goal of the type we've been fortunate enough to see all season; Pires' 19th of the season, a phenomenal haul; a typical Bergkamp pass, and another fantastic contribution from the Skipper.

16.43 - Spurs have a couple of chances to get back into the game; first Redknapp and then Davies force smart stops from Lehmann.

16.46 - The referee has a word with Vieira and Brown after the two tangle in the centre circle. Nothing worthy of a card from either.

16.47 - Lehmann tips a high cross behind him for a corner. The resulting kick is cleared by Arsenal.

16.49 - To jeers and boos from the Spurs crowd, Campbell goes on a run at goal. He makes it into the Spurs half and passes forward for Bergkamp, but the onrushing Keller is quickest to react.

16.50 - Bergkamp is playing with the speed and agility of someone 10 years his junior - but his passes betray his wisdom and experience. This time he releases Henry, who cuts inside and fires a low shot which Keller drops down quickly to save.

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****2nd Half****

17.09 - Spurs prepare to resume the game. Jermain Defoe has replaced Johnnie Jackson - Tottenham have gone 3 up front as they look for a way back in the game.

17.13 - Spurs are certainly fired-up for this second half - perhaps even too much, as Redknapp concedes a free kick after a two-footed lunge on Gilberto

17.14 - Spurs win a corner on Arsenal's left; Redknapp takes, Lehmann jumps highest to claim it.

17.16 - Spurs have a free kick 40 yards out in front of goal; Redknapp lays it off for Kanoute, who rifles it high and wide of the goal.

17.17 - Vieira slides in with a perfectly-times tackle to stop a run by Defoe. It goes out for a corner and Arsenal pick up the ball and break at speed. Spurs get their defenders back quickly to break it up.

17.19 - Arsenal have a corner on their right. Pires takes, Gilberto is on the end but can't control it and it rolls out for a throw-in for Spurs.

17.21 - Tottenham definitely having the better of this half, but Arsenal have more than enough quality. Redknapp is first into the book for a tackle from behind on Parlour.

17.22 - Henry strikes a sweet low shot at the bottom corner of goal; Keller makes just as good a save, tipping it around the post for an Arsenal corner. That comes to nothing and play goes on.

17.24 - Vieira has been the outstanding player in this game so far. This time he makes a run down the right and passes to Henry at the near post - but Gardner is there to block it.

17.26 - GOAL. Spurs pull one back through Redknapp, who fires a rocket of a shot which beats Lehmann to nestle in the bottom-right corner.

17.28 - Spurs still have to score two more to stop Arsenal winning the title here - but they've shown plenty of desire in the second half.

17.30 - Arsenal replace Ray Parlour with Edu. Gilberto will switch to the right flank.

17.32 - Taricco sends Vieira sprawling and Arsenal win a free kick in their own half.

17.36 - Pires latches onto an error by Kelly and passes forward to Henry; he only has Keller to beat, but slides it wide of the near post.

17.37 - Spurs win a free kick in front of Arsenal's goal after Vieira is judged to have fouled. Redknapp's shot is tipped over by Lehmann.

17.38 - Davies' corner is high over the box, but the linesman's flag was up for offside.

17.39 - Arsenal have a throw - and Lauren gives it straight to Kanoute in the box. He looks around as if waiting for a flag against him, and Lehmann has time to run towards him and block his shot.

17.42 - Henry plays Pires in, but the midfielder's venomous shot bounces off the crossbar and away from danger!

17.43 - Gus Poyet replaces Kelly for Spurs

17.44 - Jose Antonio Reyes replaces Bergkamp

17.46 - Campbell twice makes vital blocks to deny Jermain Defoe. Arsenal standing up well to some strong pressure.

17.49 - Keane plays a long free kick over the box and out for a goal kick.

17.50 - Spurs' fans are heading for the exits in their droves; with less than four minutes of regular time to play, it's looking less and less likely they can stop Arsenal winning the Premiership here.

17.53 - Credit to Spurs for their second half performance, but we're in the 90th minute now and Arsenal lead 2-1.

17.54 - Defoe fires a free kick which stings Lehmann's palms - Spurs have a corner. The referee blows his whistle as there's an altercation in the box between Keane and Lehmann. He gives a penalty!

17.56 - Lehmann is booked, and Keane steps up to take the penalty.

17.57 - GOAL. Keane gets the equalizer in the 94th minute. Lehmann goes the right way, but it's over his diving body

17.59 - Spurs have managed to salvage a point, but Arsenal are certain to win the league anyway.

18.00 - Into the 97th minute now! Surely only seconds remain.

That's it! Arsenal are Premiership 2003-04 champions!!!

bearbeitet 25. April 2004 von Seriöser Bub

[Pinturicchio]

Gratulation an Arsenal , für eine fantastische Saison.

[Mondschein]

Naja, wenn ich mir die letzten Spiele der Spurs anschaue, hätte es da für sie sowieso nix zu holen gegeben . Arsenal hat die Meisterschaft eh schon fix.

Aber immerhin - ein respektabler Punkt für die Spurs.

bearbeitet 25. April 2004 von Mondschein

[smithfarmer]

Gratulation an Arsenal , für eine fantastische Saison.

mit zwei schönheitsfehlern. leider

[ianrush]

Fucking Arsenal haben mir heute 90 Euro auf meinem Schein gekostet .

Aber ein völlig ungerechtfertigter Elfer war das. Lehmann war ja auch noch im Fünfer und Keane blockierte den Weg zum Ball. So ein Scheiss.

Und dann noch der Newcastle Sieg gegen Chelsea.

Trotzdem Gratulation nach London !

[Steffo]

Gratulation nach London; Arsenal ist verdient Meister geworden, war heuer die konstanteste Mannschaft

[chinomoreno]

Schließe mich den Gratulationen an, Arsenal, ganz klar der verdiente Meister. Schade nur, dass es am Ende nur für einen einzigen Titel gereicht hat, es hätten auch drei sein können, aber da hat man leider zwei Mal den falschen Tag erwischt, denn sonst spielte man so gut wie immer Traumfussball.