Arsenal:
                       Lehmann
             Lauren Campbell Toure Clichy
Fabregas Flamini (Pires 45) Gilberto Ljungberg (van Persie 65)
            Bergkamp Reyes (Cygan 90)

Tottenham dominated the first half, and had us over-run in midfield. Neither Gilberto nor Mathieu Flamini was having a good game in the middle of the field (perhaps exacerbated by both getting booked in the first 15 minutes), and Cesc Fabregas's ability on the ball was being wasted on the right wing.

At half-time, Robert Pires came off the bench, allowing Cesc into the middle of the pitch where he's at his most effective. And that, combined with Pires having his best game for ages, meant that Arsenal were able to dominate the second half. In the end we might have nicked it, but can't begrudge a draw seeing as Tottenham could have put the game away in the first half.

Their goal came just after a quarter of an hour had been played, a thunderous Ledley King header from a free kick after Gilberto had fouled Jenas on the right wing. Carrick swung the free kick into the middle of the box where King had been allowed loads too much space, very poor defending, and Jens Lehmann had no chance.

It had been hard-fought but uneventful until that point, but Arsenal were rocked by the goal, and Tottenham encouraged. Carrick became a huge influence: a powerful shot missed the post by inches and then he started a move which, via Defoe, led to an excellent Jenas shot from the edge of the box which forced Jens into an equally excellent save.

Carrick's corner was headed wide by Mido, and then a low cross from Defoe was almost converted by Jenas at the far post.

All this domination and not enough end-product... just the kind of first half we've seen from Arsenal so many times. And like Arsenal have so many times, the home side paid for it with a couple of points.

The experiment of having Freddie Ljungberg on the left and Cesc on the right having failed, Bobby's half-time introduction allowed Arsenal to revert to their normal midfield foursome. Arsenal started attacking more and the game became more open... meaning that Tottenham were attacking too. Kolo Toure had to block a Defoe shot at the near post and then Defoe again forced Lehmann into a save. Up the other end, Freddie forced an excellent save (though the goal wouldn't have counted as play had been called back for a throw) and Pires hit a free kick which dipped but not quite enough to creep under Paul Robinson's bar.

Robin van Persie came on for Freddie with 25 minutes left, and it turns out that Freddie has another hamstring problem (although they're saying he won't be out long).

Just a couple of minutes later, Gilberto and Pires combined to get the ball to van Persie on the edge of the box and he hit a shot through the crowded box which was only denied by Robinson diving at full stretch. Then Pires hit a superb long diagonal ball into the box which van Persie only just failed to get a touch on: if he had, it would have been a certain goal.

Finally, with 13 minutes left, Dennis Bergkamp hit a free kick from the left wing after a foul on Jose Antonio Reyes. Robinson flapped at it and the ball fell to Pires 10 yards from goal on the right of the box. He hit the ball low into the net first time as it fell and, though Robinson had left the goal unguarded, it was a sweet shot from a far from easy chance.

Arsenal had the momentum with them now and van Persie and Reyes each had a shot blocked by Dawson, the former's definitely heading inside the far post. Another 15 minutes of play and we would surely have won it, but the result was fair for the 90 minutes we're given.

Arsene Wenger said after the game that the change at halftime was more down to the players recognising a need to improve, than to the personnel changes he made. Seems to me that few people will be convinced, given that up to that point we had players on each wing who each regularly give their best in different positions. Perhaps the main thing though, was the return of Robert Pires. Not that he's been anywhere.