SANCHEZ HANDS WENGER A LIFELINE

Arsenal boss clings to title dream – and his job – as Chile star salvages crucial draw in derby drama

ARSENE WENGER refused to brave the heavy rain, remaining on the bench in relative shelter as the storm raged around him. As his team were down to 10 men and losing 2-1, it seemed that not just a match would be lost, but an entire season — and perhaps 20 years of dominance.

For Arsenal, a fourth successive defeat at this stage of this season was unimaginable, yet that was the way it was heading.

Yet it was for moments such as these that Wenger signed Alexis Sanchez. A neat through pass from Hector Bellerin in the 76th minute played in the Chilean, who has been underperforming of late. But he attacked the ball and even though he did not quite strike it cleanly, it beat keeper Hugo Lloris, who should have done better.

With one strike Wenger was reprieved. It may be brief but for now it will do.

‘We refused to lose the game,’ said Wenger in a week in which his team have been slammed by former players, journalists and fans.

Twenty years in, his position is questioned almost daily and the next nine league games may deliver a verdict on his suitability to continue. Yet he could afford a wry smile when asked about that. ‘I must tell you the pressure of our supporters is relentless and I’m in a good position to tell you that,’ he said.

In in equalising when he did, Sanchez may not have done enough to revive their title challenge, but it did buy his team some time.

For just 14 minutes earlier, Harry Kane had scored a goal so exquisite, so glorious that it would have been appropriate if it had been seen as an iconic moment in the shifting balance of power in north London.

It was truly one of the goals of the season; the sight of Per Mertesacker allowing Dele Alli to chase down the ball and back-heel it to Kane seemed encapsulate Arsenal’s gradual retreat over a 12-year period, from a position of invincibility into a team that folds under pressure.

But from there on in, Kane cutting inside and, from narrow angle, curling the ball into the far corner, was football at its best.

‘It was a fantastic goal,’ said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. But in his heart he knew it should have been a winner.

‘It’s true that we missed a big opportunity but Arsenal are a very good team who can create chances even with 10 players. It’s true the feeling is that we missed a big opportunity.

‘If you focus only on the result, you don’t feel so good as we needed to win. But we need to feel proud of our players. If you analyse the 90 minutes, one team was the best and it was Tottenham.’

On that point he was only partially correct. It is true they started much the stronger, ready to seize their moment. Not for a moment did Arsenal have a chance to settle on the ball. Full-backs Kyle Walker and Danny Rose went forward at every opportunity while Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele were snapping at the ball.

And yet Arsenal stood firm. Francis Coquelin saw to that, scything through Kane on seven minutes. He did not receive a yellow card for that challenge but he was booked later for a needless handball.

And in reality, there was only one clear opportunity that Spurs could create for all their possession. Walker fired in a cross, Erik Lamela had the touch but David Ospina, in goal for the injured Petr Cech, produced a stunning save, leaping athletically to his right to tip the ball wide.

Gradually, Arsenal began to threaten on the counter-attack. Their breakthrough, however, came from a throw-in which should have been defendable but for an unfortunate deflection off Dier, which allowed striker Danny Welbeck in on goal.

He picked out Bellerin out wide who in turn found Aaron Ramsey lurking in the centre and the Welshman’s back-heeled flick finish on 39 minutes was quite superb.

Lively Welbeck should have made it 2-0 on 43 minutes, a perfect cross from Sanchez being headed into the arms of Lloris and the dynamic of the game had changed utterly.

Arsenal looked confident, superior. So it was extraordinarily obtuse of Coquelin to risk all with a flying tackle on Kane on 54 minutes. He had already one stupid yellow card for handball and no chances left; he missed the ball and received his second yellow card.

In an instant the game swung back in Tottenham’s favour. On 57 min- utes Ospina kept out a Kane strike which was all but a millimetre across the line.

Then, on the hour Christian Eriksen swung in a corner, Lamela challenged Gabriel and Toby Alderweireld reacted quicker than all around him and simply thumped the ball home from six yards.

What followed two minutes later, from the masked Kane was quite exceptional, yet Spurs then surrendered the balance of power and were fortunate when Dier was not sent off for a second yellow after fouling substitute Olivier Giroud.

Still, Tottenham proved that they are manifestly no longer the soft touch in north London. But history may yet elude them. They were not strong enough to hold off a wounded Arsenal. And that may prove decisive as they attempt to chase down leaders Leicester City.