Premier League : Derby delivers a draw as top four race takes centre stage

Spurs and Arsenal had to share the points on what looks like another pivotal weekend in the battle for a Champions League spot...

Point apiece after NLD but Lloris rescues Spurs again

The North London Derby was a slow burner that ended with an explosion as Spurs and Arsenal shared the points - a return that does little for either's top four hopes but is notable for being the first stalemate of Tottenham's top-flight campaign.

A sluggish Spurs were behind to Aaron Ramsey's first-half goal on the break - the Welshman backed at 24.00 to open the scoring in his final NLD - and the home fans must have been fearing a third defeat on the bounce following recent losses at Burnley and Chelsea.

Arsenal, generally snappier and tidier than Spurs, looked to be cruising to the three points only to see Shkodran Mustafi shove Harry Kane to the ground inside the area to gift the home side a penalty. Kane, offside from the free kick that preceded the foul, despatched the spot kick into the bottom right corner to move up alongside Aubameyang on 16 goals in the battle for the Golden Boot. Arsenal were backed at a low of 1.46 to win the game in-play on the Betfair Exchange.

With 15 minutes left the game erupted into life as Tottenham pushed for the win and Arsenal looked for their chances on the break. And it was the visitors who carved out the greatest chance, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang teasing Davinson Sanchez into a questionable foul in the area.

Defeat would have been crushing for Mauricio Pochettino's men so Hugo Lloris' save from Aubameyang's spot kick may be looked back as a pivotal moment in Spurs' up-and-down season. Spurs face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Salt was rubbed in Arsenal's wounds when Lucas Torreira was given a straight red card for a lunging slide tackle on Danny Rose. Torreira will miss games against Manchester United, Wolves and Newcastle.

United leave it late against Southampton

Manchester United made up another two points on Spurs and Arsenal, winning as expected at home to Southampton but they had a scare getting the win.

Saints scored the opening goal of the game through Yann Valery and held that lead until the 53rd minute. That was enough to see United out to 4.30 on the Betfair Exchange when Andreas Pereira got United back into the match. Romelu Lukaku, scorer of a brace in midweek, was on the mark again when putting United ahead on 59 minutes. Ordinarily that would be game over but James Ward Prowse equalised and it took United until one minute from injury time before they got back into the lead, again Lukaku the goalscorer. Paul Pogba could have added some gloss to the win but saw his late penalty saved by Angus Gunn. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were backed at 7.20 on the Exchange.

United are 2.14 to earn a top four place once all 38 Premier League games are played. The betting is rounded out by Spurs 1.40, Chelsea 1.83 and Arsenal 2.66.

City go top again

Manchester City returned to the top of the table thanks to a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

Following a goalless first-half substitute Riyad Mahrez put his side ahead 10 minutes after the restart and despite dominating the game that was all it took for City to secure the win.

City are 1.57 to win the title with Liverpool, who play Everton on Sunday afternoon, their only competition at 2.72. A derby win will send Liverpool back to the summit.

Palace, Wolves and Brighton all victorious

The day's other games brought easy wins for Crystal Palace, who impressed with a 3-1 away win at Burnley, and Wolves, who ambushed Cardiff with a three-minute, two-goal salvo in the early stages at Molineux. Brighton were also victorious but they had to wait until late on to go ahead through Florin Andone. That result eases Brighton's relegation fears and Chris Hughton's side are out to 11.00 to suffer the drop.