Arsenal run riot against Spurs
Gunners take derby day spoils after Adebayor sees red.
LONDON:
Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored, but was then sent off as his former club Arsenal stormed back from behind to win 5-2 in yesterday’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The Togolese forward tapped in a 10th-minute opener after Wojciech Szczesny saved from Jermain Defoe but was sent off eight minutes later for an uncontrolled lunge at Santi Cazorla. Per Mertesacker’s 24th-minute header drew Arsenal level and quick-fire goals from Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud put the hosts 3-1 up at half-time.
Cazorla converted Podolski’s fine cross on the hour to increase Arsenal’s lead, before Gareth Bale drove home a low shot to reduce the arrears in the 71st minute. Arsenal had the final say though, Theo Walcott converting from substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass in injury time to produce a repeat of the scoreline from last season’s equivalent fixture in February.
It was Arsenal’s first win in four matches in all competitions and took them up to sixth in the Premier League table, with Spurs two points further back in eighth after a third successive league defeat. Walcott said Arsenal’s frontline was impressive and should continue playing in the same fashion in future.
“We were very ruthless going forward today,” said the forward. “We need to show this now in every single game.”
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas believed his players showed great character at the Emirates Stadium in what could have been a bad-tempered game.
“We kept the smile on our faces. The players played with passion the derby deserved,” said Villas-Boas.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2012.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored, but was then sent off as his former club Arsenal stormed back from behind to win 5-2 in yesterday’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The Togolese forward tapped in a 10th-minute opener after Wojciech Szczesny saved from Jermain Defoe but was sent off eight minutes later for an uncontrolled lunge at Santi Cazorla. Per Mertesacker’s 24th-minute header drew Arsenal level and quick-fire goals from Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud put the hosts 3-1 up at half-time.
Cazorla converted Podolski’s fine cross on the hour to increase Arsenal’s lead, before Gareth Bale drove home a low shot to reduce the arrears in the 71st minute. Arsenal had the final say though, Theo Walcott converting from substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass in injury time to produce a repeat of the scoreline from last season’s equivalent fixture in February.
It was Arsenal’s first win in four matches in all competitions and took them up to sixth in the Premier League table, with Spurs two points further back in eighth after a third successive league defeat. Walcott said Arsenal’s frontline was impressive and should continue playing in the same fashion in future.
“We were very ruthless going forward today,” said the forward. “We need to show this now in every single game.”
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas believed his players showed great character at the Emirates Stadium in what could have been a bad-tempered game.
“We kept the smile on our faces. The players played with passion the derby deserved,” said Villas-Boas.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2012.