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Arsenal vs Tottenham: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain praises Gunners character after they fight back for point against north London rivals

Debutant Ryan Mason "over the moon" with first Premier League action

Agency
Sunday 28 September 2014 08:51 BST
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hailed Arsenal's character after his goal earned the Gunners a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the 176th north London derby.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's 74th-minute goal drew Arsenal level after Nacer Chadli gave Spurs the lead 11 minutes after the break and the England midfielder was pleased with his side's display at the Emirates Stadium.

"Obviously going 1-0 down in the Spurs derby is always a bit nerve-wracking because you never want to lose the game," Oxlade-Chamberlain told Sky Sports 1.

"I thought we did well to come back, but once we made it 1-1 I really thought we could push on and get the winner.

"We knew first and foremost that we had to compete with them and that's what derbies can be like and sometimes it's not the best football, it's who wants to win it more.

"I think that was a bit of the case in the first half and I think we came back in the second half.

The nerves settled down a bit and we started to pass the ball better and we started to get into the game more."

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino handed Ryan Mason his Barclays Premier League debut after the midfielder's goalscoring performance against Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup in midweek.

Mason admitted he was happy to finally make his Premier League bow after six years at Tottenham.

"I'm just over the moon really," the 23-year-old said. "The gaffer put me in yesterday and I was excited and couldn't really wait to get out there to be honest.

"I've been here a long time and my debut was always going to be special but to be away here (at the Emirates) and also get a result is amazing."

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