Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle hailed Harry Kane’s wondergoal during the weekend’s thrilling north London derby, and said the atmosphere at White Hart Lane was one of the best he’s experienced since his playing days.
The fierce rivals played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Saturday lunchtime, with Alexis Sanchez’ second-half strike sealing a point for the ten-man Gunners.
Aaron Ramsey’s clever flick handed Arsenal a surprise lead before half-time, but Francis Coquelin’s silly sending off just after the break turned the game on its head, with Toby Alderweireld and Kane finding the net to put Spurs in front.
But, despite the goal and man disadvantage, Arsenal refused to give up and Sanchez popped up with just 15 minutes remaining to rescue a draw for the visitors – a fair result according to Hoddle.
Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Spurs’ 1984-UEFA Cup winning hero said: “I think it was a fair.
“Spurs absolutely came out of the traps for the first 35 minutes, they really did have a go at Arsenal, but they perhaps didn’t create as many chances as they would have liked to. If Spurs had got a goal in that early period I think Arsenal, with the scrutiny and the pressure they’ve been under, might have folded.
“But you’ve got to give good credit to Arsenal. I think they got better when they went down to ten men, they put Giroud on and, although Tottenham controlled large periods of the game, Arsenal always looked like they could score.
“It was a cracking game. A fascinating north London derby.
“And Harry Kane’s goal – how can you not talk about that? What a wondergoal, it really was incredible. The angle he’s at, to beat a goalkeeper from there and get the bend on it, it was just magnificent.
“White Hart Lane just took off, I don’t think I’ve heard an atmosphere like that for many a year – maybe not since the European nights back in the day. It was an event more than a game.”