Half-Time Report: Mesut Ozil fires Arsenal ahead

Mesut Ozil has given Arsenal a 1-0 lead over local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby at White Hart Lane this afternoon.

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Harry Kane had a chance to open the scoring just five minutes in as he was picked out by Moussa Dembele, but David Ospina made a save at full stretch to deny the striker.

The visitors broke the deadlock with just over 10 minutes gone when Danny Welbeck got the better of Danny Rose down the flank to set up Olivier Giroud, who saw his finish turned in by Ozil from close range.

Spurs responded as they tried to get back on level terms, but Nabil Bentaleb blasted well wide from 25 yards out, while Dembele fired an effort just wide of the post.

Ospina had to remain alert as Ryan Mason tried to curl the ball in with a powerful strike from a free kick 30 yards out, but the Colombian keeper tipped it clear by his fingertips.

The home side continued to push for the equaliser, with Christian Eriksen and Kane linking up on the edge of the box, but the striker drilled it wide before being flagged for offside moments later.

Spurs had a free kick on the stroke of half time, but Eriksen's curling delivery missed his teammates and went straight into the hands of Ospina.