Gunners hold Spurs despite Eboue red
Arsenal fans will be furious with Emmanuel Eboue for picking up two needless bookings
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Sunday, 08, Feb 2009 09:03
Ten-man Arsenal have held Tottenham Hotspur to a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.
The Gunners increase the relegation worries of their north London rivals after grinding out a draw despite having Emmanuel Eboue sent off in the first-half.
The point leaves Spurs two points clear of the drop zone while Arsene Wenger's men are five points off a Champions League spot.
But Arsenal will be relieved to come away with a draw after Eboue's dismissal and striker Emmanuel Adebayor being stretchered off with a hamstring injury.
Eboue came close to breaking the deadlock early on after firing his shot from an angle wide, while debutant Robbie Keane felt he should have been awarded a penalty when he was tripped by William Gallas.
Both sides continued to carve out chances with Eboue having a goal ruled out after a foul by Adebayor on Jonathan Woodgate while Aaron Lennon forced Manuel Almunia into a smart save after bursting into the box.
The Gunners looked more likely to score with Carlo Cudicini needing two attempts to smother Kolo Toure's shot while Adebayor was inches away from converting Gael Clichy's cross.
And that was the striker's last contribution as he was pulled up with a hamstring injury. Arsenal's afternoon then got worse minutes later when Eboue was shown a second yellow on 36 minutes for kicking out at Luka Modric having earlier been booked for dissent by referee Mike Dean.
Harry Redknapp's men threw everything at their opponents in the second half with Roman Pavlyuchenko failing to find the target twice while Keane headed over with the goal at his mercy.
Alex Song should have made Spurs pay for their wastefulness but sent his effort wide from six yards out.
Both sides then wasted golden opportunities to snatch a late winner with Nicklas Bendtner's strike brilliantly saved by Cudicini while Modric's effort from close range was saved, as the game ended in a thrilling draw.