Bournemouth: Tottenham’s second-half pressure failed to yield a goal in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Saturday as the title contender dropped points for the second straight game.
Spurs remain the only unbeaten team in the league after nine games but missed the chance to climb above Manchester City, which opened the weekend in first place.
Tottenham was fortunate to end the game with 11 men after substitute Mousa Sissoko appeared to elbow Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter on the side of the face as they jostled for a ball at a throw-in.
After squandering many chances in a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last weekend and then drawing 0-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, Tottenham again lacked a cutting edge without injured striker Harry Kane.
The second half was dominated by the visitors but they didn’t seriously test Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who parried away Dele Alli’s shot and saw Erik Lamela drive an effort over the bar from an acute angle.
Lamela struck the angle of post and bar in the first half, after Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had turned Steve Cook’s close-range shot onto the bar following a short-corner routine.
It was a fifth clean sheet in nine games for Tottenham, which has the best defensive record in the league.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, compared the Premier League to “a jungle” saying every day was a fight for survival.
The 66-year-old Frenchman — whose side are on a hot streak of form with seven successive wins in all competitions — will hope his players heed such words when they host struggling Middlesbrough.
Victory over ‘Boro would move them top of the table three points clear of Manchester City, who play on Sunday.
“I believe that humility is to understand that you start again from zero and that you are in a jungle,” said Wenger.
“We live in a jungle where everybody wants to eat you and you have to survive by keeping your vigilance.
“That’s what competition is about. Every day you have to fight again to survive. The love to win and the competitiveness of the Premier League is very exciting.”
Wenger, who recently celebrated 20 years in charge at the Gunners, says there is no truth in the rumours Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are delaying signing new contracts because they want to know what he will do as his contract is up at the end of the present campaign.
