Tottenham slipped behind Arsenal in the Premier League but rescued a point in stoppage time after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with against Stoke at White Hart Lane.

A fourth consecutive league defeat looked inevitable when Cameron Jerome put the Potters ahead against the run of play in the second half.

But Tottenham rescued a vital point in the race for the Champions League when, in the 93rd minute, Rafael van der Vaart headed in Gareth Bale’s out-swinging cross from the left.

The result means Spurs relinquish third spot to their north London rivals who have succeeded in closing what seemed an insurmountable ten point gap.

Despite dominating possession in a scenario that will be so familiar to Tottenham fans in recent weeks, Harry Redknapp’s side struggled to make the break-through.

A Jermain Pennant free kick was bundled home at the far post by Cameron Jerome on 74 minutes after Robert Huth won the initial header.

Tottenham struck the woodwork twice in a game they dominated but struggled to break down a tight Stoke defence.

The match began with a minute’s applause for Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba who suffered a heart attack on the pitch at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

The midfielder’s heart did not start beating again for some two hours after he was taken from the pitch and the game was abandoned soon after the incident.He has since been making a steady recovery in hospital.

A near-capacity ground rose to recognise the efforts of the medical staff in a touching reflection of what might have been had paramedics not reached the 23-year-old so quickly.

Stoke had the best chances from long range inside the first ten minutes - Cameron Jerome and Salif Diao both firing over from 25 yards.

Rafael van der Vaart went closest for Tottenham in the opening exchanges, nicking the ball with his back to goal before letting fly and forcing a smart save from Begovic down to his left.

Luka Modric should have put Spurs ahead in the 18th minute when Bale slid the ball through to the Croatian who had been left open on the right hand side of the Stoke box.

But after controlling on the turn, the playmaker shot low and wide past Asmir Begovic’s left post.

And it was the creative midfielder who went close again in a carbon copy of the first move on 21 minutes but once more the 26-year-old was off target.

Spurs began to find their rhythm after a sloppy opening 15 and Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s free kick sailed inches high of the top right hand corner on 26 minutes.

Moments later Kaboul headed against the bar from a corner but the whistle had gone for a foul by Louis Saha.

The home side struggled to find a way through a resurgent Potters defence as the visitors sat men behind the ball for much of the first half.

Tottenham began to resort to long range shots with Niko Kranjcar and Saha both firing over.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp brought on Jermain Defoe at half time in place of Niko Kranjcar as he looked to provide his team with more of a threat around the Stoke box.

The striker’s introduction had an immediate impact as Spurs looked a constant threat soon after the break but the home side failed to maintain their threat.

Despite controlling the midfield and camping in front of the visitor’s defence, the desperately-needed goal never game and there was a certain inevitability when Stoke won a free kick in the second half and scored against the run of play from the resulting set piece.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King (Nelsen, 83), Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar (Defoe, 45), Parker, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Saha (Giovani, 72). Subs: Cudicini, Giovani, Defoe, Rose, Livermore, Sandro, Nelsen.

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Diao (Whelan, 26), Jerome (Delap, 83), Walters, Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Whelan, Jones, Whitehead, Upson, Delap, Shotton.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Bookings: Palacios, 43, van der Vaart, 80.

Attendance: 35,172.