Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are drawing 0-0 at half time in the North London derby following a hard-fought first 45 minutes at the Emirates.
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The game has been played at a frenetic pace, with three players entering the book and a number of crunching tackles being put in, but it took until the 21st minute for either goalkeeper to make a meaningful save.
Following a deep cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck cut inside and drilled a low shot towards goal which was well held by Hugo Lloris.
Oxlade-Chamberlain continued to be a menace and another cross almost caught Lloris out, but the Frenchman recovered to spare his blushes.
Jack Wilshere was his usual busy self in the centre of the park and he was the next Arsenal player to test Lloris, but the midfielder's shot was straight at the Spurs stopper.
A few minutes later, there were worrying signs for the Arsenal fans as Wilshere's ankle buckled beneath him, but the 22-year-old soon returned to the field.
Former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor was then handed the chance to put his side a goal up in the 38th minute, but he didn't react to Erik Lamela's clever pass.
The game gathered pace as it approached half time, and Oxlade-Chamberlain stung the hands of Lloris once more before Nacer Chadli and then Adebayor both snatched at one-on-one chances.
In the final minute of the half, Aaron Ramsey followed Mikel Arteta off the field as Arsenal's midfield injury woes worsened.
Kristian Johnson
