Match Report

Arsenal returned to winning ways after two successive defeats with a convincing 3-0 victory over North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur.

Goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and two converted penalties from Gilberto Silva got the Gunners back on the winning track after defeats in their last two matches.

Typical of this fixture, the game began at a frantic pace. The Gunners piled on the pressure early on with the attacking quartet of Freddie Ljungberg, Robin van Persie, Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky worrying the Spurs defence with their pace and movement.

The Gunners were without their captain and talisman Thierry Henry but were a different team from the side that were so disappointing in their midweek loss to Fulham.

They added the ingredients of steel and industry, decidedly missing against the Cottagers, to their fast-flowing passing game. Spurs, for their part, weathered the early storm with cool, calm defending but captain Ledley King was fortunate that referee Graham Poll waved away Arsenal's strong appeals when the Tottenham man hauled down van Persie on the edge of the area.

While the Gunners complained, Spurs broke away and should have taken an unlikely lead. A ball from midfield found Dimitar Berbatov, who reclaimed the ball after Emmanuel Eboue's challenge to pull a pass back for Steed Malbranque who was unmarked inside the Arsenal box.

The Spurs midfielder had time to pick his spot but instead sliced his shot wide of the right post.

The Gunners got the reward for their early dominance with a goal on 20 minutes when an incisive pass from Kolo Toure split the flat-footed Spurs defence and beat the offside trap for Adebayor to accelerate on to and race towards goal.

As Paul Robinson came out to narrow the angle, the Gunners striker kept his composure steering the ball with clinical precision into the right corner of the net.

Arsene Wenger's side continued to pour forward and Johan Djourou should have doubled Arsenal's lead on 32 minutes when he failed to connect with a free-kick from the right by van Persie when the slightest of touches would have directed the ball beyond Robinson.

Spurs were riding their luck and had another fortunate break on 39 minutes when Adebayor was winning the race against King before the Spurs man tripped him up. However, Poll called it a good tackle and waved play on.

Three minutes later though the referee made up for his error with another mistake, this time in Arsenal's favour. Tomas Rosicky had worked his way into the Spurs penalty area but went down under Pascal Chimbonda's challenge.

Poll pointed to the spot although television replays showed that the Spurs right-back had got a foot to the ball. Up stepped Arsenal captain for the day, Gilberto who fired the ball into the extreme right side of the net to put the Gunners 2-0 up.

Martin Jol changed things around at half-time bringing on Jermaine Jenas to compete with Cesc Fabregas in midfield and Young-Pyo Lee at left-back for Benoit Assou-Ekotto who was carrying a booking, and had been lucky to stay on the pitch in the first half.

Aaron Lennon, who made little impact against the speedy Gael Clichy, was switched to the left flank.

The switch brought Spurs back into the game a touch more. Jens Lehmann was tested for the first time by Jenas whose 25-yard drive on 55 minutes was parried by the German keeper but only as far as Lennon, who had the goal beckoning but a saving interception by Toure quelled the danger.

Just 17 minutes later however, Jenas added to Tottenham's woes when he tripped van Persie inside the area after the Dutchman had done well to get in between Jenas and King.

Up stepped Gilberto again but this time the Brazilian coolly rolled the ball into the right side of the goal, sending Robinson the other way.

Arsenal then played keep ball for the remainder of the match, while Spurs tried to upset their opponents with some unsavoury challenges, but the Gunners kept their cool and composure to secure all the points.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides