Kieran Gibbs to the rescue for battling Arsenal

Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1: Arsenal may have missed out on the chance to move to the top of the Premier League but there was an undeniable sense Arsene Wenger’s side had managed to at least salvage something from the weekend.

Two points dropped at the Emirates Stadium in a north London derby would normally be a cause for disappointment, but having appeared destined to succumb to only their second defeat in 26 visits of their nearest neighbours, Arsenal unexpectedly claimed a draw.

Apart from the obvious significance an extra point may have at the end of the season, Wenger and his players will believe the way they managed to conjure parity through Kieran Gibbs’ 78th minute equaliser — scored four minutes after the left-back appeared from the bench — highlighted qualities not always apparent in recent seasons.