An inspired substitution from Arsene Wenger ensured Arsenal extended their advantage at the Premier League summit.
Bendtner scores winner with first touch from off the bench
An inspired substitution from Arsene Wenger ensured Arsenal extended their advantage at the Premier League summit, as Nicklas Bendtner's header gave them a priceless 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
Arsenal were far from at their exhilarating best at the Emirates Stadium but still did enough to dig out a result, from a North London derby that was turgid in the first half and terrific in the second.
Wenger is not a manager to throw tea-cups at half-time but whatever he said at the break certainly worked, as Arsenal found themselves ahead within two minutes of the restart as Emmanuel Abebayor stylishly converted Cesc Fabregas' sumptuous back-heeled assist.
It was a lead that proved short-lived though as Dimitar Berbatov levelled with an explosive finish, after Robbie Keane had matched Fabregas' inventiveness with a back-heel of his own.
And it could have got so much better for Spurs had Keane not had his penalty saved by Manuel Almunia after Kolo Toure had fouled Berbatov.
Juande Ramos' woes were exacerbated when Bendtner evaded his marker Tom Huddlestone at a corner, to score a thumping header of a winner past Paul Robinson with his first touch in the 74th minute.
Injury crisis
Such is the injury crisis at White Hart Lane, Jamie O'Hara was given his first start. The 21-year-old was on the books at Arsenal as a trainee before joining Spurs and he was on loan at Millwall earlier in the season.
He, Steed Malbranque and Kevin-Prince Boateng fizzed around the midfield looking to break up Arsenal attacks - and it initially worked as the first half saw only half chances.
The Gunners had their first sight of goal in the second minute when Mathieu Flamini hooked a volley that went just the wrong side of the angle of post and crossbar.
Toure also got a header on target from a Fabregas free-kick - but neither of the early chances troubled Robinson.
Spurs' early threat came from Aaron Lennon on the right wing. He curled in a cross that Bacary Sagna needed to head clear as Keane looked to pounce.
Lennon and Gael Clichy's battle of pace was one of the more interesting match-ups in a first half hour where chances proved difficult to come by.
Robinson was finally forced into a save, at his near post from Emmanuel Eboue, who had recovered from knee and ankle problems.
Boateng then curled an effort just over the bar when Lennon laid the ball to him on the edge of the penalty area.
Robinson had to save when Toure got on the end of Fabregas' corner just before the break.
If Arsenal looked short on ideas in the first half, they were quickly into gear after the restart and opened the scoring in the 47th minute.
Tomas Rosicky fed Fabregas on the edge of the penalty area and the Spaniard backheeled to Adebayor. The Togo striker curled the ball around Robinson for his sixth goal against Spurs in just over a year.
Fabregas then tried his luck from long-range as the atmosphere intensified. Boateng took his frustration out on Alexander Hleb from behind and was replaced by Huddlestone on the hour mark.
Missed chance
Keane smashed against the crossbar from point-blank range after Lennon had lofted a cross to the far post - but the equaliser came a minute later in the 66th minute.
Keane held the ball up on the touchline before backheeling to Berbatov. The Bulgaria striker took a touch and squeezed his shot through Toure and Flamini and into the near post.
Then came Keane's chance to put Spurs ahead after Berbatov was tripped by Toure. Almunia dived the right way and got enough on the ball for it to go to safety.
Wenger responded by bringing on Bendtner for Eboue in the 74th minute and his goal came seconds later when he rose to head Fabregas' corner home.
Adel Taarabt had a late penalty shout turned down as Arsenal held on to extend their lead at the top.
| Arsenal |
Team Statistics |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 5 |
Corners |
1 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 83 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
40 |
| 81.8 |
Tackles Success |
77.5 |
| 53 |
Possession |
47 |
| 52.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.5 |
|
