From: bocmunro@bnr.co.uk (Bruce Munro)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Spurs v Arsenal - Match Report
Date: 16 Dec 1992 12:50:48 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe, New Southgate, London.
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Sorry I didn't get this out a couple of days ago, but I'm still suffering
from the hangover after Saturday night's drinking session following our
gubbing of the Gooners.

Spurs delivered an early Christmas present to their fans this year after
condemning Arsenal to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat and
getting themselves back on the rails following defeat at Nottm Forest and
at home by Chelsea. Good pre-match news was that Durie, Allen and Howells
had all passed fitness tests and would be playing. Arsenal had Norwegian,
Pal Lydersen playing.

The match started off pretty scrappily and continued like for most of the
ninety minutes. There was immediate controversy when Arsenal's Ray Parlour
was brought down in the Spurs box. Television showed he had a pretty good
case too, but I wasn't complaining when the appeals were turned down. The
match then settled into a pattern of midfield scrapping with tackles
coming fast, furious and often unfair. After twenty minutes Spurs broke
the deadlock with a move that came from distinctly unpromising beginnings.
Following a back-pass which he couldn't pick up, Erik Thorstvedt controlled
with his feet rather than hoofing it away. Unfortunately, Ian Wright was
quickly on to him and for a moment it looked as if Thorstvedt would be
disposessed in the manner of the Leeds game which led to a 5-0 gubbing.
Instead Erik sidestepped Wright, and as Campbell moved in, calmly laid the
ball off to Gary Mabbutt. Mabbutt found Allen who took the ball forward
before sending wide to the right where Durie took it on. Durie looked to
have fed it through the Samways in the centre, but it was cut out by
Lydersen, but unluckily for him Paul Allen was on him in an instant, taking
the ball off his foot, going into the area and comprehensively beating
Seaman.

The remainder of the half saw Thorstvedt pull off two good saves, the first
of which prevented Tony "Donkey" Adams from scoring  what would have been
one of his career best efforts. A long ball from Bould found Adams still
lurking forward, his first touch chipped the ball over Ruddock and he
then volleyed the ball in low, with Erik just turning the ball round his
left hand post. The next save came from a powerful Bould header which Erik
turned over the bar.

The second half saw Arsenal applying more pressure, but with Spurs
defending confidently. The best chance of the half fell to Spurs though,
when Nick Barmby, on for the tiring Durie, made a beautiful run past the
Goons offside trap. Seaman was caught off his line and Barmby made an
excellent looping shot over the keeper, only to see it crash into the
bar. That was five minutes before time and if only it had gone in. With
the referee playing several minutes of injury time, thoughts among the
Spurs fans were very much on Ian Wright's last gasp equaliser in the
corresponding fixture last season. A two goal lead in the closing stages,
would have meant celebrating in great style for the last few minutes,
instead it was heart in mouth stuff as Arsenal pushed for the equaliser
and the Spurs whistled for full-time to be blown. It was ten to five before
relief finally came prompting the biggest celebrations I've seen at White
Hart Lane for a year or so.

On the disciplinary front it was not a pretty game to watch. There were
five bookings, two to Spurs and three to Arsenal. In addition Ian Wright
was yet again involved in trouble when he hit David Howells in the face
following an innocuous tackle. The FA are to investigate.

Other news is that Gordon Durie has his appeal against the three match
suspension imposed for supposedly feigning injury after being headbutted
in the game against Coventry. Let's hope he gets his name cleared. I for
one am fed up with smallminded morons calling him a cheat.

-- 
Bruce Munro.  <B.Munro@bnr.co.uk> || ...!mcsun!uknet!bnruk!B.Munro
BNR Europe Ltd, Oakleigh Rd South, London N11 1HB. | Note the change
Phone : +44 81 945 2174 or +44 81 945 4000 x2174   | of e-mail address.
"There are no strangers, only friends we don't recognise" - Hank Wangford
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer