THE final north-London derby at Highbury had it all - goals, passion, controversy, skill, pettiness, and a sending off - but ultimately not the result Arsenal wanted as they were held to a draw by Tottenham. Robbie Keane, continuing his rich vain of scoring form, had put the visitors ahead just after the hour with a close-range strike, scored when the home side had a man down injured. But with six minutes left, his fellow captain, Thierry Henry, who had started on the bench, produced a brilliant finish to level the match.

Arsenal then pressed for the winner they badly needed to up the pressure on Spurs in the final Champions' League qualiying spot, but despite being reduced to 10 men Martin Jol's side held firm.

Understandably there was an electric atmosphere as a sun-baked Highbury played host to the 151st meeting between the sides, and the last one at this famous old venue. Arsenal started with Henry and Cesc Fabregas on the bench ahead of this week's Champions' League clash with Villarreal and it was Spurs who had the better of the first half after a cagey opening. First, Keane and Aaron Lennon combined on the edge of the Arsenal area to send the young Spurs winger in down the right. His low, angled drive flew wide of the far post. Then, after 25 minutes, Michael Carrick's clever chip into the six-yard box was controlled expertly by Jermaine Defoe on his chest, with the ball rebounding off Jens Lehmann's face.

Arsenal finally got their trademark slick passing together when Jose Antonio Reyes released Robin Van Persie. The Dutch forward drilled a low, first-time effort on target from 16 yards, which Paul Robinson collected comfortably. There was, however, a big let-off for Arsenal in stoppage time. Carrick cut in from the left and skipped his way past several red shirts before darting into the box and drawing Lehmann. However, the Spurs midfielder was pushed too wide and struck the sidenetting with his angled shot.

It was again a positive opening by Spurs to the second half as Edgar Davids came close but Arsene Wenger, sensing that the game was slipping away, brought his two main men - Henry and Fabregas - into the fray after 62 minutes.

Three minutes later there was a goal. It didn't go to script though. Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto were involved in an accidental clash on the half-way line, which left the Arsenal defender on the floor. Spurs, with Carrick in possession, played on, and Davids sped clear down the right, before crossing to the far post when Keane slotted home. His ninth in 10 games sent the travelling fans into delirium - but both Robert Pires and then Lehmann angrily confronted the Dutch international for his perceived lack of sportsmanship. And it also led to a blazing touchline row between Wenger and Jol.

?It's a shame, " Wenger said afterwards. ?It was hesitation from Carrick to kick the ball out when we had two players down. They (the Tottenham bench) even lie about that and I find that very disappointing." But Carrick, unsurprisingly, saw it differently. ?To be honest I thought he just fell over, " he said. ?It's happened now and we can't change it. We're not cheats, that's for sure. If I'd known he was injured I would have put it out." And Jol, who didn't shake hands with Wenger at the final whistle, insisted he was not aware of the furore because he was following play.

?To be fair I didn't even see it, I was watching Edgar Davids, " the Dutch coach said. ?The lad was going down then standing up and for me there's no problem."

The tense atmosphere was even got through to the directors' box, where Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman had to ask for decorum to be restored as the home fans in the surrounding area were left less than impressed with some of the goings-on.

But, on the pitch, Arsenal largely held their composure and were level with six minutes to go. Emmanuel Adebayor won possession off Paul Stalteri on the left flank, and carried the ball forwards before releasing Henry, whose dispatched a brilliant effort with the outside of his boot into the far corner. Highbury erupted.

Tottenham were then reduced to 10 men when Davids, who had already been cautioned, went in hard on Fabregas and left referee Steve Bennett with little option but to produce a red card.

Arsenal pressed for a winner they hardly deserved, but Spurs held on for what could prove a crucial point in the race for fourth spot as Arsenal run out of games.