In what was hailed as one of the most important North London derbies of all time, with the two sides going into the fixture sitting in second and third respectively, the tension was evident as Arsenal made the short trip to White Hart Lane.
The hosts started the better of the two, with their high intensity pressing proving a constant threat on the break. After a comfortable opening twenty minutes, the visitors began to grow into the contest and eventually took the lead with half time approaching.
Héctor Bellerín miscued his shot from a Danny Welbeck cut back and Aaron Ramsey expertly flicked the ball past the helpless Hugo Lloris in the home goal. With Érik Lamela seeing his strike acrobatically saved by David Ospina just minutes earlier, Arsenal were delighted with their efforts in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half struggled to get going before a lapse of concentration by Francis Coquelin saw the Arsenal midfielder bring down Harry Kane despite already being on a booking. The Frenchman saw his marching orders as the hosts began to find a way back into the game.
Just minutes later, the pressure paid off when Toby Alderweireld fired past Ospina from a Lamela corner. With the hosts evidently buoyed, Dele Alli flicked the ball back to Kane on the edge of the Arsenal area and the England international did the rest.
A curling effort proved too much for Ospina as Kane scored his fourth goal in four appearances against his boyhood rivals. Kane could have added another soon after but saw his turn and strike trickle just wide of the post.
With the visitors sensing an unlikely equaliser as the contest progressed, poor defending by the hosts saw Alexis Sánchez find space in the box before seeing his strike somehow beat captain Lloris to end the match with a share of the points.
Mixed emotions for Pochettino following draw
Tottenham boss Pochettino was left understandably frustrated as he saw his side fail to hang on to the three points which would have seen them move to the top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours.
The Argentine admitted his side “started well” but found it “difficult” after the Ramsey opener. Pochettino was left “a little disappointed” but claimed it is "not always easy against ten [men]”.
Having seen his side come out second best at West Ham United in midweek, another two points dropped doesn't help Tottenham’s push for top spot and Pochettino stated the “feeling in the end isn't so good” but insists his side “need to be proud”.
Kane insists there's still time for a title push
Tottenham top goalscorer Kane thought his sided needed to “kill it [the game]” and “get a third” before the eventual equaliser. With a tricky looking trip to Borussia Dortmund facing Tottenham in the Europa League on Thursday evening, Spurs will have to follow Kane’s lead and move.
With nine games remaining the Premier League this season, and Tottenham now five points behind Leicester City at the top of the table, Kane said his teammates “need to stay positive” and “keep working hard” as the games come thick and fast.
Fellow goalscorer Alderweireld claimed the Arsenal opener was “fortunate” following the mis-hit by Bellerín. After conceding a late goal to the ten men, despite dominating for last portions of the match, the Belgian centre back admitted the final result “feels like a loss” but the positive mentality of the side means they “want to win every game”.
Losing ground in the race for the title
With both sides gaining one point on Leicester for a few hours, the Foxes restored their lead at the top of the table following a spirited 1-0 victory at Watford on Saturday evening.
Tottenham will be happy to have a couple of easier fixtures on paper in the coming weeks, with Aston Villa and Bournemouth next up, after two hotly contested London derbies.
If Pochettino’s men can get back on track, they will believe the title is there for the taking once again as the season progresses.