Bent saw the cracks

Spurs striker witnesses the Arsenal infighting first hand

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 23rd November 2008

Darren Bent England press conference

Bent: Saw the Gunners' cracks first hand

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Darren Bent has revealed that he and his Tottenham team-mates witnessed the cracks in the Arsenal team when Spurs fought back to earn a 4-4 draw at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger's side have been under intense scrutiny during the past week due to captain William Gallas' comments where he lifted the lid on the dressing room unrest at the club.

Wenger subsequently took the captaincy off the defender and left him out of the squad to play Manchester City on Saturday.

The decision seemed to back-fire on the Gunners as they succumbed 3-0 to their hosts, as Mark Hughes' men claimed their first win in four Premier League games.

Bent told The People: "We knew on the pitch that if we could get the game back to 4-3 then they would crumble. I felt the tension within the team on that day.

"During that game you could hear the players arguing between themselves and that made us focus.

"Luckily enough we put them under pressure and got our rewards. Maybe once you get under their skin it frustrates them and it obviously got to them.

"I've never heard of a captain come out and say those things."

Bent admits, though, that after the derby thriller the Frenchman was the only Arsenal player to shake the Spurs players' hands.

He added: "He showed real heart and did shake our hands."