Arsenal came back from a goal down to win 3-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
Towering striker helps Arsenal come from behind
Arsenal came back from a goal down to win 3-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
White Hart Lane erupted on 14 minutes when Gareth Bale hit a dipping free-kick past the sprawling Manuel Almunia.
The Gunners probed in an attempt to find an equaliser but were guilty of squandering many clear-cut chances, notably Abou Diaby's miss from 10 yards.
Arsene Wenger's men continued to create in the second half and finally levelled when Emmanuel Adebayor powered in a Cesc Fabregas free-kick.
The Spanish midfielder then put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes remaining, with a rasping strike from outside the area.
As Spurs pushed for an equaliser, Adebayor stepped up to rub salt in the wounds. The towering striker spun wonderfully to power in an unstoppable strike past Paul Robinson.
Spurs had not beaten Arsenal since 1999, during George Graham's reign, and there is a perception Martin Jol struggles against the "big four".
Business as usual
It looked like business as usual when Paul Robinson was required to tip over Adebayor's volley from 25 yards in the early stages.
But Dimitar Berbatov was offering a threat for the hosts and he looped a header over the crossbar before getting fouled in the lead-up to Bale's opener.
Bale curled the effort behind Arsenal's wall and inside Almunia's near post, leaving the peroxide Spaniard fuming with himself.
Adebayor immediately threatened at the other end after the opener, with Robinson required to turn his volley around the post.
The England goalkeeper was needed again in the 25th minute when Fabregas broke from the centre of midfield, with Alexander Hleb eventually having the shot and Robin van Persie firing the rebound across the face of goal.
Diaby then had an effort from long distance on the half-hour mark, and got even closer two minutes later when Hleb found him free overlapping. Diaby beat Robinson with his powerful effort but it smacked off the crossbar to safety.
As expected, Spurs were forced to defend early in the second half, although Berbatov should have added a second goal in the 51st minute.
Steed Malbranque slipped the Bulgaria striker through and he rounded Almunia but could not do the same to Kolo Toure, who was the last defender.
Undoing
Adebayor fired over the crossbar in Arsenal's next move after Bacary Sagna raced down the right and cut the ball back. The Togo striker then tried to take it around Robinson but the goalkeeper timed his dive to perfection.
Yet Spurs were still threatening a second goal, with Younes Kaboul heading over and Tom Huddlestone cracking a volley wide from Pascal Chimbonda's cross.
Jol has been frustrated with Spurs' defending from set-pieces this season and a free-kick was their undoing again, with Arsenal levelling in the 65th minute.
Adebayor nipped ahead of Robinson to meet Fabregas's free-kick after Malbranque had fouled Mathieu Flamini.
Spurs' response was to bring on Aaron Lennon for his first appearance since knee surgery in the summer.
Berbatov had two bites at Jermaine Jenas' corner but Gael Clichy cleared off the line.
Fabregas then got his stunning goal, receiving the pass from Tomas Rosicky before taking aim from 30 yards and bending into the top corner with the outside of his boot.
Adebayor then scored a stunning volley in stoppage time to add to Spurs' misery.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Arsenal |
| 1 |
Goals |
3 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
8 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 8 |
Corners |
4 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 6 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.3 |
Passing Success |
84.2 |
| 37 |
Tackles |
37 |
| 81.1 |
Tackles Success |
78.4 |
| 43.5 |
Possession |
56.5 |
| 48.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.1 |
|
