Source: Telegraph
Arsenal 3 Tottenham 0: match report
Superiority confirmed. After a week of relentless positivity from Tottenham - in which captain Robbie Keane opined that their squad was now the equal of their north London rivals - the argument was settled conclusively out on the pitch with an emphatic 3-0 Arsenal victory. [LNB]It also extended a league record against Tottenham Hotspur under Arsene Wenger that now reads: played 24, won 12, drawn 11 and lost one. [LNB]Arsenal v Portsmouth previewThe match was effectively settled shortly before half-time when Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas each scored within the space of a minute. Van Persie then placed further gloss on the result after linking up to clinical effect with Bacary Sagna for his second of the afternoon. [LNB]The recent uncertainty about the Arsenal goalkeeper's position had earlier been underlined when Wenger recalled Manuel Almunia for the first time in more than a month; his third different Arsenal goalkeeper in the space of just six days. [LNB]The first chance of the match fell to Nicklas Bendtner who, having spoken with enormous confidence about his belief that he will become the Premier League's top goal-scorer within five years, shot well wide. [LNB]David Bentley continued in the Tottenham team after his star turn in the Carling Cup, but his first moment of note was a late - and potentially dangerous - tackle on Thomas Vermaelen that surprisingly escaped even a booking. Bendtner was also excused an equally questionable challenge. [LNB]While some of the challenges were full-blooded, the football was also excellent, with both teams trying to attack. [LNB]William Gallas headed narrowly wide from a Van Persie cross and then Fabregas forced an excellent save by Heurelho Gomes after Andrei Arshavin's shot had been blocked. [LNB]The occasion took a less savoury twist shortly before half-time when Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and coach Joe Jordan became animated about something that happened behind them among the Arsenal supporters. [LNB]Redknapp appeared to single out one fan during a conversation with a steward, presumably for something that had been shouted. [LNB]Tottenham had largely held their own for 41 minutes, but Arsenal struck twice with astonishing efficiency in the space of a minute. [LNB]First Bacary Sagna crossed for Van Persie to steer home at the near post and then, immediately from the re-start, Fabregas skipped past several Tottenham tackles to double the lead. [LNB]With Fabio Capello watching, Ledley King had looked somewhat ponderous for both goals. [LNB]Further chances came and went at both ends; Bentley forced an acrobatic save from Almunia with a free-kick, while Diaby had an effort blocked. [LNB]Arsenal, though, ultimately put the game beyond Tottenham in unusual circumstances. Benoit Assou-Ekottu clattered into Eduardo but, after both sides briefly stopped, referee Clattenburg played an excellent advantage. [LNB]Sagna promptly fired in another cross and, amid confusion between King and Gomes, Van Persie rolled the ball into an empty net. [LNB]It ensured several more months of bragging rights for Arsenal. [LNB]
