The first ten minutes was both scrappy and uneventful as the teams struggled to put down a marker in the contest.
The danger was the swift breaks made by Arsenal but the home crowd were becoming more and more agitated as our boys were dictating the momentum of the game and zipping the ball around on. They were almost being forced to play like the away team for most of the first half as our midfield switched from compact to expansive given the demands of the moment.
Arsenal who would have to get the ball first, something that was proving problematic on the day were again mounting a rearguard action in the first ten minutes after the interval with some sublime approach play by the boys not quite matched by the final ball.
So well did the team play for 70-odd minutes, there will be a couple of 'what ifs' in the minds of players and supporters. Arsenal had responded to the goal strongly, piling forward before substitute Thierry Henry levelled as we came under real pressure for the first time in the game. Then we were faced with four or five minutes with ten men against a team with a head of steam, but Michael Carrick who was simply the best player on the pitch and his teammates resisted the onslaught and made their point.
Anthony Gardner and Teemu Tainio both returned from injury to replace Calum Davenport and Jermaine Jenas as Martin Jol was forced to make two changes.
Blackburn's defeat in midweek means there's now an eight point gap opened up between fourth place and sixth, although Rovers and Arsenal, who remain four points behind Tottenham, both have a game in hand.
Martin Jol: "I was very proud of how the team played although the disappointing thing is we deserved to win but we got the draw we needed to maintain our advantage. Teemu Tainio played in the centre and did very well, but maybe Carrick was the best player on the pitch. I thought Robbie Keane had probably his best match. He had to play in a slightly different role and he was always moving between the players and linking up the attack, Anthony Gardner and Michael Dawson at the back. I thought we were the better team, we had a game plan and we created three or four great chances in the first half with Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Teemu Tainio. I think Jermain and Robbie did well and Jermain has probably had eight chances in his last three matches."
"Anyone who watched this game will have seen that apart from the last 15 minutes we played well and passed the ball well. I don't think there will be an Arsenal fan disagreeing that we deserved something. Some people have commented that we performed like the home team at Highbury and I've heard that has not happened in the last three years, in that the away team had 55 per cent of the possession. We have improved this season and we have played very well in recent games and been creative. Everybody is proud of the team because we are now in European competition next season and that was our first target but the most pleasing thing for me was that not one of our players were celebrating in the dressing room afterwards."
Jol on injuries: "Everybody knows we had problems going into the game so we were a little concerned. Ledley King (stress fracture, fourth metatarsal in left foot) was out and we had to pull out Calum Davenport (calf strain) as well. Mido couldn't even do a fitness test, it was too painful on his knee - not his groin. At first it was his groin but he came back and now it's his knee. And after training on Friday Jermaine Jenas had a lot of pressure on his shin - maybe it's the start of a little hairline fracture, so he couldn't play. I think we pulled him out at the right moment. After the game we were a bit worried about Teemu but a scan showed his toe is fine which was very good news."Michael Dawson: "If we are honest it was a good result and a good performance. We played so well for most of the game, and the midfield and front boys made it a little bit easier for us at the back so we didn't have to do much defending but, what we had to do, I think we did well. We had chances but didn't have anything to show for it while it remained 0-0. But we came out and played as well as we did in the first half for 20 minutes of the second half. Luckily enough we got the goal and we were hoping we would hold on. Unfortunately for us, we came away with just a point as Arsenal got a goal late on and we were disappointed not to hold our lead."
Michael Carrick: "To go to Highbury like we did and create chances like the boys did up front…It would have been a nice goal to score myself. I don't think their boys expected me to go so far because it just opened up. Once I'd gone around a couple of players it seemed the right thing to do to try and get around the keeper as well, which I managed to do but he just clipped me and I stumbled a bit. The ball ran away from me and it was difficult to get it back. I've watched it a few times over the last couple of days and thought 'what if' but looking at it I don't think I could have done much more with the finish."
"Robbie has been a top player for a number of years now, but the way he's been playing over the last few months has been magnificent. He is absolutely on fire. Since he came in just before Christmas he has been electric and just seems to be getting better and better. He has had the captain's armband over the last couple of weeks and that has probably given him a lift, along with more responsibility. From what I know he has always been a team player - he's just improved at it and had more influence because he has come to the stage where he is one of the older and more experienced ones in the team. Robbie and Aaron were simply outstanding against Arsenal - especially in the first half - and I thought Azza was brilliant and caused them all sorts of problems."
Robbie Keane: "We created chances and were the better side so we were disappointed we didn't come away with the three points, but it was fantastic - especially for the first 70 minutes. I thought we were absolutely superb in the first half. It was like we were the home team, keeping the ball and moving it. I was delighted to score, but the most important thing was we didn't lose and we are all happy about that and can take a lot of credit."
Chris Hughton: "Robbie maintained the standards at Highbury he's set himself all season."
Arsene Wenger (AFC): "Tottenham played well today, especially in the first half."
Source: Official sites