North London Derby ends all square

Jurgen Klopp tastes first defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace; Aston Villa hold league leaders Manchester City

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A highly anticipated game between sheer rivals Arsenal and Tottenham ended with a goal apiece, as Arsene Wenger and his men fail to capitalize on the opportunity to go on top of the table. After three consecutive wins for Jurgen Klopp in all competitions, his side, fazed with injuries, were unable to deliver the goods this time around against Crystal Palace. Bottom club Aston Villa, with a new manager at the helm, managed to secure a point against Manchester City, following a goalless draw in Remi Garde’s first game in-charge.

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Arsenal came into this crunch fixture having being scourged by Bayern Munich in mid-week, whereas Tottenham came at the back of a victory against RSC Anderlecht in their Europa League tie. Last season’s revelation Harry Kane opened the scoring when he cleverly beat the offside trap to latch onto Danny Rose’s cross field ball and the Englishman emphatically slotted it past Petr Cech. The Lily Whites almost doubled their lead in a frantic, end-to-end game when Toby Alderweireld’s fierce header from a corner was kept out by the firm fists of Cech and the rebound was cleared by Arsenal Skipper, Per Mertesacker.

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The Gunners equalised in the latter stages of the second half after outplaying Tottenham in most departments of the game after the first-half whistle.  Arsenal found the net through an unlikely hero in Kieran Gibbs, as Mesut Ozil’s sublime cross over the Tottenham defence was cushioned in at the far post by the makeshift left winger. Olivier Giroud almost gave his side the lead, when the big Frenchman’s headed effort of Mesut Ozil’s free-kick struck the crossbar. The former Montpelier striker was in the thick of things again when he missed a sitter, as Mesut Ozil turned provider again. The draw meant that Arsenal go into the international break having failed to move above Manchester City, while Mauricio Pochettino’s men climb up to 5th place, leapfrogging London rivals West Ham.

After a crucial victory in central Russia in the Europa League, Liverpool were high on confidence but short of players, as they lost captain James Milner to a hamstring injury, while former captain and club legend Steven Gerrard was in attendance at Anfield. Crystal Palace started brightly and opened the scoring, when Wilfred Zaha’s cross went through many red shirts and Emre Can made a mess of his clearance and almost cushioned it for Yannick Bolasie, who punished the young German by thumping it home with a fierce left-footed shot past the hapless Mignolet. Mamadou Sakho, who looks like a transformed defender under Jurgen Klopp, was substituted in the first-half due to a knee injury.

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The Reds found their much needed equaliser late in the second-half, when Nathaniel Clyne received a slick pass from Jordan Ibe and the English fullback played it towards his countryman, Adam Lallana who deftly flicked it near the back post to Philippe Coutinho and the young Brazilian placed it past Wayne Hennessey to restore parity. Jurgen Klopp’s men came close to taking the lead for the first time in the game, when Alberto Moreno’s inch perfect ball from the left flank which was squandered by summer signing, Christian Benteke, with only the ‘keeper to beat. The Eagles, however, took the lead in the 82^nd minute, when Yohan Cabaye’s out-swinging corner was met by ever present set piece threat, Scott Dan whose initial header was saved by Simon Mignolet but the rebound kindly fell back towards him and the defender didn’t waste his second bite at the cherry. The victory for Alan Pardew and his men means that Palace go into the international break climbing above Liverpool and Everton in 8th place while the Reds find themselves in 10th place.

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It was Remi Garde’s first game in charge of Aston Villa and his side put up an excellent display of organisation, concentration and confidence. Manchester City never had a chance of piling forward as they were constantly reminded of the threat that the home side possessed on the counter attack.  The Sky Blues would have felt that they deserved a penalty after Raheem Sterling went to ground rather easily when Cieran Clark made contact with his toe, but the appeals were denied by the referee, Craig Pawson.

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Manuel Pellegrini’s men looked more threatening in the second half as they started creating chances in abundance, but noteworthy efforts were few and far between. Raheem Sterling squandered a glorious opportunity, when he failed to direct his header with only ‘keeper Brad Guzan to beat. Jesus Navas’ cross, late in the second half, to new signing Kevin De Bruyne was fluffed by the Belgian as he looked to flick it into the net but was unable to make good contact with the ball. The game, uncharacteristically, ended goalless as Manchester City stay on top of the Barclays Premier League. Things look good for Aston Villa under new manager Remi Garde as the Villains kept their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season but still find themselves at the foot of the table.

In La Liga, Real Madrid suffered a 3-2 loss at Sevilla, their first of the season, while Barcelona sent Villareal packing with an emphatic 3-0 win to move three points clear at the top of the table.

• About the Author

About Sahil Bhinde

"I eat football, I sleep football, I breathe football! I'm not mad, I'm just passionate," said by one of the legends of the game, Thierry Henry, apt description for Sahil Bhinde. Aside from being a football admirer since a very young age, the 17 year old is pretty fond of British rock bands, Oasis, Beatles, Radiohead to name a few. All opinions are his own.