Returning Kane halts Arsenal’s summit bid
London, Nov. 6: Harry Kane marked his return from injury with the equaliser as Tottenham Hotspur drew 11 at Arsenal on Sunday to keep their arch rivals from the Premier League summit.
Arsenal took the lead late in the first half courtesy of Kevin Wimmer’s own goal, but Kane levelled from the penalty spot early in the second period after a foul on Mousa Dembele by Laurent Koscielny. The result prevented Arsenal from supplanting Chelsea as leaders and opening up a six-point gap over Spurs, who remain fifth, three points below Arsene Wenger’s men and four points off first place.
Wenger has now gone five league games without beating Spurs for the first time, while Mauricio Pochettino is the first Tottenham manager to avoid defeat in his first five top-flight North London derbies.
Although Spurs have now gone seven games without a win in all competitions, they have avoided defeat in their opening 11 league games for only the third time in the club’s history.
Spurs welcomed back talisman Kane after seven weeks out with ankle ligament damage, but Dele Alli was absent due to a knee injury that will keep him out of action for England over the international break. Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea exploited a slipup by Manchester City to claim top spot by stylishly crushing Everton 5-0 on Saturday.
Marten de Roon’s stoppage-time equaliser earned Middlesbrough a 1-1 draw at City and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea took advantage to move a point clear of Pep Guardiola’s side at the summit.
Elsewhere, bottom club Sunderland ended their wait for a first win of the season at the 11th attempt by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Bournemouth despite having Steven Pienaar sent off.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea produced one of their most scintillating performances in recent memory as the 2014-15 champions made it five straight wins without conceding a goal.
Hazard opened the scoring in the 19th minute, drifting in from the left to drill a shot into the bottomright corner, and a minute later Pedro Rodriguez teed up Marcos Alonso for the hosts’ second.
Diego Costa made it 3-0 three minutes before halftime. Chelsea’s fourth goal was a jewel, Pedro returning Hazard’s pass with a sweet back-heel and the Belgian dancing into the box from the right before lashing home with his left foot. Pedro volleyed in the fifth in the 65th minute.
City went into their game on the back of a stirring 3-1 Champions League win over Barcelona and Boro’s former Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes looked determined to restore Catalan pride at the Etihad Stadium.
Stoke City drew 1-1 at West Ham United, Bojan Krkic exploiting an error by home goalkeeper Adrian to equalise in the 75th minute after a Glenn Whelan own goal had put the hosts ahead.