Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Tottenham's goal in the North London derby as a disgrace and hinted that the Spurs were not committed to fair play. "Their goal was a disgrace," Wenger was quoted as saying by BBC Sport in a press conference after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Highbury. Tottenham took a controversial lead six minutes after the hour mark when the ball fell to Michael Carrick after Arsenal players Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto Silva collided in the midfield. With Eboue still down injured, Arsenal players expected Tottenham will stop the play but, instead, Carrick slipped the ball to Edgar Davids whose cross was converted by Robbie Keane. "We had two players down and Carrick had the ball and didn't know what to do, then they decided to play the ball," Wenger said. "You expect to get the ball back in England, but if that's the way they want to play it's their responsibility," he added.
Keane gestures after scoring. Following the controversial goal, Wenger had an angry exchange with Tottenham boss Martin Jol on the sidelines and the Frenchman resumed his attack on the Spurs bench. "If they say they didn't see it from the bench, then this is very disappointing," said Wenger. Arsenal captain Thierry Henry rescued his side from losing the last derby at home in the 84th minute when he curled a stinging low finish into the side netting. The draw tightened Tottenham's grip on the fourth spot that qualifies to next season's Champions League, on 62 points with two matches to go. They lead Arsenal, who still have one match in hand, with four points.
