Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur went into this afternoon's North London derby with mixed form so far this season.
It looked as though Tottenham were ready to take three points away from the Emirates Stadium when former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor put them 1-0 up early on. However, the Togo international turned villain moments later when he was red carded.
His dismissal swung the game Arsenal's way and they ended up hitting five past their rivals.
Find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Morning all. It's the game that every Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur supporter look for first when the fixtures are released - the North London derby!
There's no team news yet, but we will bring it to you as soon as we get it. Andre Villas-Boas's team selection for Spurs will be interesting. He's made some strange looking decisions in recent weeks!
And just as I say that, the Arsenal team is released...
Arsenal X1: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud
So the big news from an Arsenal point of view is the fact that Wojciech Szczesny returns between the posts following an injury absence. England internationals Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott also start.
Tottenham X1: Lloris; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton; Lennon, Sandro, Huddlestone, Bale; Adebayor, Defoe
Well, well - I told you Villas-Boas's selection would be interesting. Brad Friedel has dropped out and has been replaced in goal by Hugo Lloris. Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor will partner Jermain Defoe, while Kyle Naughton will feature at left-back.
And here are both benches:
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin
Tottenham: Friedel, Dawson, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll, Dempsey, Sigurdsson
Right, with the lineups now announced, let's have a deeper look at the previous meetings between these two rivals...
One thing you can expect today is goals. Not only have they both shipped quite a few goals this season, but there have been 23 in the last four Arsenal vs. Spurs matches at the Emirates.
Another stat that points to goals, particularly for Spurs, is the fact that hosting Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 matches. That must send a shudder down the spines of Adams, Keown, Dixon and Winterburn!
Staying on the subject of goals, there are three players that have scored a record eight goals for Arsenal against Spurs. Two of the them are Alan Sunderland and Robert Pires, but who is the third?
No, not Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp. It is infact Emmanuel Adebayor, who starts up front against the Gunners today!
I think this is the Adebayor goal vs. Spurs that lives the longest in the memory. What a strike!
Although, if he does find the net against Arsenal, let's just hope he doesn't celebrate like this when scoring against the Gunners for Manchester City!
Another striker who has hit the headlines recently is Arsenal's Olivier Giroud. He struggled to settle to the Premier League initially, but over the last few matches he has shown signs that he has found his feet. He'll be full of confidence today having netted twice against Fulham last weekend.
Right, just over five minutes to go until we get underway now. Have to say, there's a lot of pressure on both managers today. Wenger and AVB have been heavily criticised this season and defeat this afternoon will not been looked on favourably.
The players are now on their way out and get a big reception from the Emirates crowd. Handshakes coming up...
Here we go then. Arsenal get the 151st North London league derby off and running...
Arsenal supporters are quite often criticised for being quiet but nobody can complain with the noise inside the Emirates at the moment. There's a proper derby atmosphere.
Very little has happened so far in terms of goalscoring chances. Arsenal have had more of the ball, but done very little with it.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Spurs defender Gallas thinks he has opened the scoring against his former club, but the referee's assistant rules that he was offside when he curled the ball into the net from 10 yards out. Replays show that it was the correct decision.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Spurs (Adebayor)
The worst possible goalscorer from an Arsenal point of view! Defoe got himself free from Per Mertesacker, only to then see his low shot fantastically saved by Szczesny. However, Adebayor reacted quickest and tapped the rebound into the net. He always plays well against his former clubs!
CHANCE! Spurs are inches away from being 2-0 up. Gareth Bale finds Aaron Lennon inside the area, who drives through the legs of Thomas Vermaelen. His shot beats Szczesny, but also just beats the post. Arsenal are rocking.
RED CARD! Abebayor (Spurs)
Oh dear! Adebayor has gone from hero to zero in the space of seven minutes. The goalscorer goes in studs up on Santi Cazorla and he can have no complaints. It was a horrible challenge. Perhaps he was too pumped up for this match against his former employers. The whole outlook of this game has changed now.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Spurs (Mertesacker)
What time a time for Mertesacker to claim his first goal for Arsenal. Walcott did well down the right, whipping in a cross for the big German, who leapt above the Spurs defence to guide a powerful header beyond the reach of Lloris. It could be a long game for the away side now.
It's all Arsenal at the moment, which isn't surprising. Walcott is seeing a lot of the ball. His pace is causing young full-back Naughton problems.
SAVE! That's one for the cameras from Lloris. It's a good header from Giroud, but the Spurs keeper comfortably tips the ball away.
CHANCE! Cazorla, who has been quiet so far, sends in a swerving effort that just flies over Lloris's crossbar. I'm not sure he would have got there had the shot been on target. Arsenal are knocking on the door.
Still Arsenal are in command, although Bale is looking dangerous for Spurs on the break. Like Walcott, he has pace to burn.
SAVE! Arsenal are causing all sorts of problems down their right hand side. This time Bacary Sagna stands up a cross for Giroud, who headers towards goal. Lloris is alert though and holds his effort.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (Podolski)
It's a scruffy goal, but Arsenal won't mind one jot! The ball breaks to Lukas Podolski inside the area. He spins Gallas, before seeing his shot bobble past a helpless Lloris from 12 yards out. It's one-way traffic at the moment.
BOOKING! Spurs winger Lennon gets his name taken for a late challenge on Vermaelen. Although he couldn't see the Arsenal defender coming, he can have no complaints with the card.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Giroud)
He's been quiet so far, but Cazorla was superb there. He rides one challenge before driving into the area. His low cross finds Giroud, who slides the ball into the net. There may still be another half to go, but this match looks to be over already.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs
This match never disappoints, does it? Spurs were dominating up until Adebayor's stupid sending off. From there, Arsenal have battered their rivals and look to have put the game to bed. The next goal in this one is massive.
I wouldn't want to be Adebayor at the moment. His teammates will be in the dressing room right now pointing the finger at him. They were in control and looking threatening with 11 players on the pitch.
SUBSTITUTION: Two changes for Tottenham at the break as Clint Dempsey and Michael Dawson replace Naughton and Walker. They are now playing 3-5-1.
Spurs certainly are more positive with the tactical switch. Fair play to Villas-Boas for doing that. It could prove costly in the end though because they are leaving a lot of space in behind.
We've got a stoppage in play as Walcott goes down clutching his arm following a challenge from Dawson. It was an awkward landing for the Arsenal winger and no attach blamed to Dawson.
Walcott is now up and rejoins the action. He is moving a litter gingerly though.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham (Cazorla)
Just as Spurs were getting a foothold in the game, Arsenal extend their lead further. Podolski sends in a low cross for Cazorla, who has the simplest of tasks to tap the ball into an empty net. Game over.
"Adebayor, what's the score?" sing the Arsenal faithful. He will be very unpopular among the Spurs fans for a while I would imagine.
BOOKING! After about his 100th foul of the match, Sandro gets a yellow card for a trip on Giroud. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but the Brazilian has committed more fouls than clean tackles today!
GOAL! Arsenal 4-2 Spurs (Bale)
Hang on a minute! We may have a game on our hands. It's poor defending from Arsenal, who allow Bale time and space to run towards the area, before sending a low shot beyond the reach of Szczesny. It was his right foot as well! Interesting last 20 minutes now.
SUBSTITUTION: Arsene Wenger reacts to the Spurs goal by swapping Wilshere with Aaron Ramsey.
CHANCE! Big, big opportunity for Bale and Spurs. He raids down the left but instead of crossing for Defoe to tap in, he goes for goal and shoots wide. Understandably Defoe is fuming with his teammate. Spurs should only be a goal behind now.
CHANCE! This time Defoe does get a sight of goal, but he gets it all wrong. Bale's corner evades everyone and finds the striker at the back post. He swings his right boot, but fails to connect and the chance is gone.
SUBSTITUTION: Podolski takes his leave for Arsenal and is replaced by Andre Santos.
Arsenal are now keeping the ball well and are making Spurs chase. With 10 men, that can't be easy. It wouldn't be surprising to see another Arsenal goal before the whistle goes.
SUBSTITUTION: Final switch for Arsenal as goalscorer Giroud is given a breather and Oxlade-Chamberlain takes his place.
We're going to have a minimum of four minutes of stoppage time. Arsenal are knocking the ball around for fun at the moment.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham (Walcott)
I said that there was another goal in this match for Arsenal and there it is. Oxlade-Chamberlain breaks clear and squares the ball for Walcott, who takes one touch before beating Lloris from inside the area. He wants to be considered as a striker and backed up that opinion there.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 5-2 Spurs
It was a match that changed on a moment of madness from Tottenham striker Adebayor. His sending off swung the game in Arsenal's favour and the home side went on to batter their rivals. Credit to Spurs for the way that they performed in the second half, but they were always facing an uphill battle.
That's all we have time for from the Emirates Stadium, but stay with us at Sports Mole throughout the afternoon for live commentaries, reports and reaction from football at home and abroad. Enjoy!
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
