Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas netted in quick succession just before the break and a second goal from Van Persie gave the Gunners the three points.
Arsene Wenger brought in Nicklas Bendtner after his winning goal in the Carling Cup in midweek. Harry Redknapp brought in David Bentley to replace Aaron Lennon after the England winger was injured against Stoke City last weekend.
Bentley was fortunate to still be on the pitch after eight minutes, after avoiding certain yellow cards for deliberate handball and a late challenge on Thomas Vermalen.
The former Blackburn winger tried to take advantage of his reprieve by trying to replicate his 35-yard volley from the corresponding fixture last year, but this effort was well wide.
Arsenal’s first chance came on 13 minutes when Gael Clichy intercepted a pass on the halfway line and surged forward. He checked his run and passed to Andrei Arshavin, but his first time half-volley was easily saved by Heurelho Gomes.
Gomes came to Spurs rescue on 20 minutes with a stunning piece of goalkeeping to deny Fabregas. Arshavin’s run had been halted by Ledley King, but Fabregas ran onto the loose ball to hit a powerful half volley from 15 yards, that was somehow clawed away by the diving Gomes.
Just before the half hour mark, Fabregas intercepted a wayward Spurs pass on the edge of the box, and played in Van Persie, but he mis-hit his close range effort.
Arshavin was looking the home side’s most likely source for a goal and on 36 minutes, he created an opportunity for himself with another forceful run through the middle, but his goal bound shot was deflected over.
Three minutes later, Sagna whipped in a low cross, but Van Persie failed to connect properly and his shot rolled into the arms of Gomes.
However, on 42 minutes, the same combination paid off as Arsenal took the lead. Sagna’s cross low again and Van Persie got across the defender and fired low past Gomes.
Spur’s would have been hoping to get to half time, but 11 seconds after the re-start, Arsenal doubled their lead. Fabregas dispossessed Wilson Palacios on the halfway line, and manoeuvred himself past three defenders before curling a 20 yard past Gomes to give the Gunners a 2-0 halftime lead.
Arsenal were looking to carry on where they left off and came close to adding a third on 49 minutes, when the Spurs defence failed to deal with a Van Persie cross, and Abou Diaby’s six yard shot was blocked.
Two minutes later, substitute Eduardo was clean through on goal but he was well denied by the sprawling Gomes.
The visitors came close to pulling a goal back on 57 minutes, but Bentley free kick was turned over by Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal sealed the three points on the hour mark in bizarre circumstances. Eduardo was brought down on the right hand side, which was acknowledged by the referee but he waved play on.
The Spurs players stopped but Sagna continued down the right and crossed into the box, and after the ball evaded Gomes and King, Van Persie tapped into an empty net.
Eduardo missed his second one-on-one chance midway through the half when he hit his shot wide, when it appeared he only needed to hit the ball over the advancing Gomes.
Roman Pavlyuchenko tried to reduce the deficit with fifteen minutes remaining, but his 20 yard cross-shot was straight at Almunia.
Eduardo had another chance to get his name on the score sheet but his free header from a Fabregas cross was straight at Gomes.
The game petered out to a succession of ‘ole’s’ from the Arsenal supporters, as this compressive display over their North London rival’s reaffirms their challenge on the League title this season.
Arsene Wenger brought in Nicklas Bendtner after his winning goal in the Carling Cup in midweek. Harry Redknapp brought in David Bentley to replace Aaron Lennon after the England winger was injured against Stoke City last weekend.
Bentley was fortunate to still be on the pitch after eight minutes, after avoiding certain yellow cards for deliberate handball and a late challenge on Thomas Vermalen.
The former Blackburn winger tried to take advantage of his reprieve by trying to replicate his 35-yard volley from the corresponding fixture last year, but this effort was well wide.
Arsenal’s first chance came on 13 minutes when Gael Clichy intercepted a pass on the halfway line and surged forward. He checked his run and passed to Andrei Arshavin, but his first time half-volley was easily saved by Heurelho Gomes.
Gomes came to Spurs rescue on 20 minutes with a stunning piece of goalkeeping to deny Fabregas. Arshavin’s run had been halted by Ledley King, but Fabregas ran onto the loose ball to hit a powerful half volley from 15 yards, that was somehow clawed away by the diving Gomes.
Just before the half hour mark, Fabregas intercepted a wayward Spurs pass on the edge of the box, and played in Van Persie, but he mis-hit his close range effort.
Arshavin was looking the home side’s most likely source for a goal and on 36 minutes, he created an opportunity for himself with another forceful run through the middle, but his goal bound shot was deflected over.
Three minutes later, Sagna whipped in a low cross, but Van Persie failed to connect properly and his shot rolled into the arms of Gomes.
However, on 42 minutes, the same combination paid off as Arsenal took the lead. Sagna’s cross low again and Van Persie got across the defender and fired low past Gomes.
Spur’s would have been hoping to get to half time, but 11 seconds after the re-start, Arsenal doubled their lead. Fabregas dispossessed Wilson Palacios on the halfway line, and manoeuvred himself past three defenders before curling a 20 yard past Gomes to give the Gunners a 2-0 halftime lead.
Arsenal were looking to carry on where they left off and came close to adding a third on 49 minutes, when the Spurs defence failed to deal with a Van Persie cross, and Abou Diaby’s six yard shot was blocked.
Two minutes later, substitute Eduardo was clean through on goal but he was well denied by the sprawling Gomes.
The visitors came close to pulling a goal back on 57 minutes, but Bentley free kick was turned over by Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal sealed the three points on the hour mark in bizarre circumstances. Eduardo was brought down on the right hand side, which was acknowledged by the referee but he waved play on.
The Spurs players stopped but Sagna continued down the right and crossed into the box, and after the ball evaded Gomes and King, Van Persie tapped into an empty net.
Eduardo missed his second one-on-one chance midway through the half when he hit his shot wide, when it appeared he only needed to hit the ball over the advancing Gomes.
Roman Pavlyuchenko tried to reduce the deficit with fifteen minutes remaining, but his 20 yard cross-shot was straight at Almunia.
Eduardo had another chance to get his name on the score sheet but his free header from a Fabregas cross was straight at Gomes.
The game petered out to a succession of ‘ole’s’ from the Arsenal supporters, as this compressive display over their North London rival’s reaffirms their challenge on the League title this season.
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