Sheff Utd 1-0 Arsenal

Christian Nade got the winning goal as Sheffield United ended 2006 with a shock victory over a poor Arsenal side.

Nade got the better of Kolo Toure before sidefooting past an onrushing Jens Lehmann just before half-time.

United had to survive over half an hour with midfielder Phil Jagielka in goal after Paddy Kenny went off injured.

But Arsenal failed to seriously test the emergency stopper until late on when he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Robin van Persie.
Free-signing Nade was all set to be the Blades unlikely hero with his first Premiership goal until Jagielka's spell between the sticks.

Until then it was a poor way to bring down the curtain on the footballing year, but perhaps not surprising considering both clubs had suffered through illness and injuries in the build-up to the game and were forced to ring the changes.

In spite of this Arsenal started the game as they finished the win at Watford and repeatedly opened up United in the opening 10 minutes.

Tomas Rosicky saw a shot saved by a flying Kenny and then Julio Baptista was given the freedom of the Blades' box.

But the Brazilian was let down by a poor first touch that gave Nick Montgomery time to get back and throw himself into a goal-saving tackle that left Baptista frustrated and in some pain.

Gilberto Silva should have extended his recent scoring streak to four in as many games when he lost his marker at the back post, but headed into the ground and over the bar.

But Arsenal's dominance was not to last as they struggled to get their passing game going on a difficult pitch hosting its second game in five days.

Alan Quinn should have done better than fire straight at Lehmann when he was left free in the box and at the other end Jeremie Aliadiere brought another routine save out of Kenny.

The half was brought to life late on when Sheffield United took a shock lead.

An Arsenal move broke down and when Quinn played the ball into Nade's feet Toure gambled and was left chasing a French shadow when he dummied the ball and ran on to sidefoot past the onrushing Lehmann.

Arsenal have been the Premiership's best second-half performers this season.

And their task was given a helping hand when Kenny was forced off after seemingly pulling a thigh muscle taking a goalkick.

With no substitute keeper on the bench Jagielka was forced to don the gloves.

Quinn had a couple of quick chances to bolster their lead before United settled for defending on mass.

Arsenal soon threw on Cesc Fabregas but his main contribution was an ugly late tackle on Quinn that earned him a yellow card that means he will be suspended for the FA Cup tie against Liverpool.

It took over 20 minutes for Arsenal to test Jagielka and he responded with a spectacular tip over the bar from a close-range Van Persie strike.

Arsenal ran out of ideas and Jagielka - helped by a heroic defensive effort - was able to see out the five minutes of added-on time without having to make a save.

The Blades move up to 15th in the table with their first league win over Arsenal - who end the year in fifth place - in over 33 years.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock:"It was probably the proudest moment since I became a manager, with the crowd and the atmosphere.

"They have injuries but we were decimated as well but I thought we deserved to win it.

"A lot of the players came in and I don't worry about them, we always put everything in. We won tackles, the goal was super and the crowd were brilliant. It was a great result.

"I like having an extra forward on the bench. I didn't panic when he (Jagielka) went in goal, he doesn't get worried and neither do I. It's the only chance he's got of being man-of-the-match."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "It was a very physical game and tricky because of the pitch but we battled hard and gave everything.

"It didn¿t go for us with the early chances and they then stopped the game and did it well.

"Overall I feel we were a bit unlucky - they showed great spirit and so did we. We were strong enough to win the game but it didn¿t go for us and it's hard to take."

Sheff Utd: Kenny (Tonge 61), Kozluk, Morgan, Jagielka, Armstrong, Gillespie, Montgomery, Leigertwood (Davis 27), Alan Quinn, Nade (Hulse 70), Kazim-Richards.Subs Not Used: Webber, Law.

Booked: Morgan, Hulse.

Goals: Nade 41.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte (Fabregas 64), Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Julio Baptista, Silva, Rosicky (Denilson 83), Flamini, Van Persie, Aliadiere.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Lauren, Song Billong.

Booked: Rosicky, Van Persie, Fabregas.

Att: 32,086.

Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).

Watford v Arsenal

Vicarage Road
Tuesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1730

Watford could name an unchanged side, hoping for another assured display from Adrian Mariappa and Al Bangura.

They both featured against Liverpool along with on-loan keeper Ben Foster, who completed the match without any reaction to his recent knee injury.

Arsenal look set to again be without full-back Emmanuel Eboue (ankle).

Theo Walcott, Julio Baptista and Mathieu Flamini are all pressing for a start should Arsene Wenger decide to give his regulars a rest.

Watford (from): Foster, Stewart, DeMerit, Mahon, Henderson, Young, Shittu, Bouazza, Bangura, Mariappa, Smith, Francis, Doyley, Lee, McNamee, Priskin.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Adebayor, van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Flamini, Senderos, Baptista, Aliadiere, Song.

From : BBC Sports

Arsenal 6 - 2 Blackburn

Three goals in the last eight minutes handed Arsenal a majestic victory over Blackburn at the Emirates.

Shabani Nonda put Rovers ahead from the spot after three minutes before Gilberto Silva headed home a corner.

Alexander Hleb then side-footed home with a sublime finish before Emmanuel Adebayor made it three from the spot.

Nonda pulled one back with an overhead-kick before Van Persie added two more with neat finishes while Mathieu Flamini blasted home a sixth.

Rovers started confidently and were rewarded for their early endeavour after three minutes when David Bentley broke into the Arsenal box and was awkwardly hauled down by Kolo Toure.
Nonda stepped up to confidently dispatch the resulting spot-kick and for a brief spell, Blackburn looked good value for their lead.

Former Gunner Bentley, perhaps with a point to prove to his former boss, stung the hands of Jens Lehmann from distance on three occasions and shone on his return to north London.

But he and his Rovers team-mates quickly became overrun in midfield with Cesc Fabregas, Hleb and Gilberto pulling the strings as Arsenal took control.

And the warning signs were there for Arsenal's equaliser when Toure headed against the bar via a Blackburn deflection from Fabregas' corner.

From the resulting van Persie corner from the right, the unmarked Gilberto rose to guide his header into the left corner.

Buoyed by their quick response, Arsenal pushed forward and sliced through Rovers with breathtaking ease.

On 23 minutes the Gunners went ahead with a fine build-up and neat finish by Hleb.

Adebayor played in the Belarussian who danced past Andy Todd and delicately side-footed home from five yards.

Arsenal had their third two minutes later through a penalty of their own.

Van Persie latched on to Adebayor's chipped through-ball and was felled from behind by Lucas Neill.

After consultation with his assistant, referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot and Adebayor sent Brad Friedel the wrong way.

Andre Ooijer did well to prevent Arsenal scoring a fourth shortly after the break when he deflected Tomas Rosicky's shot on to the bar.

Blackburn worked hard and pulled themselves back into the game as Nonda acrobatically fired home with an overhead kick after Matt Derbyshire's header had cannoned off the underside of the bar.

The goal rocked the Gunners' back line and Blackburn pressed forward with vigour in search of an unlikely equaliser.

Arsenal's swaggering flow was quickly replaced by a jittering stutter in the last 10 minutes and Jens Lehmann pulled off a fine save from Morten Gamst Perdersen's volley.

But van Persie settled the Arsenal nerves with a composed run and finish from the left-hand edge of the box.

And he was on hand to complete a delightful move with four minutes left with Fabregas the archetict providing an exquisite cut-back for the Dutchman.

Substitute Flamini capped an impressive Arsenal performance by firing home a loose ball at the end.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

"Both teams showed great football going forward and the score was too big for them because at 3-2 we were wobbling slightly.

"But overall we played some great football and showed marvellous technique.

"Many teams have got away with a point playing a lot less football than Blackburn have and they came here and played.

"But I was pleased with the way we responded with character and great self-belief."

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:

"In the second half we had a real go at it and at 3-2 Arsenal were wobbling, but the fourth goal knocked the stuffing out us.

"We didn't come here just to nullify Arsenal's attack, we came here to win the game and maybe that has cost us today.

"But we didn't put in a performance worthy of a 6-2 defeat. There was some good performances on our side but in the end we gave ourselves too much to do."

Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Hleb (Walcott 88), Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky (Flamini 71), Adebayor (Julio Baptista 89), Van Persie.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.

Booked: Van Persie, Hleb, Adebayor.

Goals: Silva 10, Hleb 23, Adebayor 27 pen, Van Persie 85, 88, Flamini 90.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Ooijer, Gray (Derbyshire 63), Emerton, Savage, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Bentley, Nonda.Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Henchoz, Peter.

Booked: Neill, Emerton, Savage.

Goals: Nonda 3 pen, 69.

Att: 59,913

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

From : BBC Sports

Arsenal Vs. Blackburn

Emirates Stadium

Saturday, 23 December

Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Arsenal midfield duo Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are back in contention after injury but Emmanuel Eboue is out.

An ankle problem means the full-back joins William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungburg on the sidelines.

Blackburn's top scorer Benni McCarthy will miss the trip to the capital through suspension.

Stephane Henchoz is back after a ban, Zurab Khizanishvili and Brett Emerton could also come into contention after injury but Aaron Mokoena is doubtful.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Walcott, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb, Adebayor, van Persie, Almunia, Rosicky, Senderos, Baptista, Flamini, Aliadiere, Song.

Blackburn (from): Freidel, Neill, Todd, Ooijer, Henchoz, Khizanishvili, Gray, McEveley, Emerton, Bentley, Tugay, Savage, Mokoena, Pedersen, Nonda, Derbyshire, Gallagher, Brown, Peter.

Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb:"We should have won more games because we created so many chances, but have just not been able to put the ball in the net.

"In fact we have been doing everything but score in some games. Often we have given away silly goals and then it becomes difficult when the opponents sit behind the ball.

"We have to concentrate better, and of course take our own chances."

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:"They seem to have had a little bit of a problem initially in the first few months of the move to the new stadium.

"They've had some good results, but others where they have had to come back on level terms.

"So there is a little bit of encouragement for us, but you have to accept they're a team of high quality."

BIG-MATCH FACTS

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger had little Christmas cheer for referee Steve Bennett at half time of last Saturday's game with Portsmouth. The Gunners were made to fight hard for the point against Pompey to retain their unbeaten record at the Emirates. Now they take on fifth bottom Blackburn aiming to stretch the undefeated sequence at their new home to 10 Premiership games.

The North Londoners had an unwanted night off, when their Carling Cup quarter-final with Liverpool was postponed on Tuesday, because of fog.

They are one place and one point behind the third placed Merseysiders in a compact Premiership table, where three points cover five clubs, all with an eye on the two Champions League qualifying spots.

Arsenal will want a substantial return from the holiday programme that takes in a Boxing Day visit to Watford, a trip to Sheffield United next Saturday and a home clash with Charlton on Tuesday week.

The Gunners are looking for a 50th competitive victory over Blackburn. They won this corresponding fixture 3-0 last season, when Thierry Henry became the first player to score 100 League goals at Highbury.

BLACKBURN ROVERS were sliding alarmingly down the table, before picking up only their second away win of the season at Reading last Saturday.

They travel to the capital with sights set on completing back-to-back wins for the first time in 10 Premiership outings, but knowing that defeat coupled with victories for Middlesbrough (home to Charlton) and West Ham (away to Fulham) would see Rovers spending Christmas Day in the relegation zone.

The Ewood Park club have some tough fixtures over the holiday period, and will need to be at their best if they're to stay clear of trouble.

They host Liverpool on Boxing Day and Middlesbrough four days later, before making the short trip to Wigan on New Years Day.

Rovers have lost their last three League visits to Arsenal, without scoring a single goal.

REFEREE

Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

Premiership referees' table
Howard Webb's 2006-07 Premiership card count

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ARSENAL

Club stats

Fixtures

4th 30 points

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd

Lowest could fall: 7th

1. Undefeated in five in League and Cup.

2. Won two and drawn two of the last four Premiership fixtures, since losing 2-1 at Fulham on

29 November.

3. One of three remaining clubs with an unbeaten home Premiership record. The others are

Chelsea and Liverpool.

4. Not lost in 23 League and Cup matches on home soil - 16 of which were top flight games. Won nine and drawn seven in front of their home fans since losing 2-3 to West Ham at Highbury on 1

February.

5. On the Premiership's longest run since a goalless draw of 36 games.

6. The current tally of 30 points from 18 games is Arsenal's lowest return to this same stage in eight Premiership seasons.

7. Holding a 100% Premiership record when keeping clean sheets (won seven of seven).

8. Scored in each of the last eight League games and failed to score in one of 16. Missed the target in only two Premiership matches this season.

9. Gained eight Premiership points from losing positions. Only Aston Villa can match that. The Gunners showed their resilience by trailing, then winning at Charlton. and drawing home to

Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Everton, Newcastle and Portsmouth.

10. Scored 18 home League goals - only Manchester United can beat that (20).

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Club stats

Fixtures

16th 19 points

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th

Lowest could fall: 18th

1. Won the last two in League and Cup.

2. Not managed successive top tier victories since 1 October, when they completed three wins on the bounce against Manchester City (h), Middlesbrough (a) and Wigan (h).

3. Lost six of nine Premiership matches, included two of the last three.

4. Kept just one clean sheet in 11 League outings (2-0, home to Fulham on 2 February).

5. Kept only three clean sheets in this Premiership campaign. All other clubs have managed more, with the exception of Fulham and West Ham, who've also kept three each.

6. Beaten only Middlesbrough and Reading on the road so far in this League season.

7. Won one of the last five matches on their Premiership travels.

8. Failed to score in half their away League games this term (four of eight).

9. Picked up more cards in top flight matches than any other club this season (41). They've been shown three reds and 38 yellow - discounting Andy Todd's sending off which was later rescinded.

10. Conceded more penalties in Premiership matches this season than any other club (seven).

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

ARSENAL

Squad profiles

Thierry HENRY and Robin VAN PERSIE are Arsenal's joint top scorers with seven goals each.

HENRY leads the way for the club in the Premiership with six goals.

VAN PERSIE has scored four goals in his last three League and Cup appearances against Blackburn.

When next involved, HENRY will be making his 250th Premiership appearance. He'll become the seventh foreign player and the second Frenchman to reach such a milestone. The other also wore an Arsenal shirt, Patrick Vieira.

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Squad profiles

Benni McCARTHY is Blackburn's leading scorer with nine goals - six in the Premiership.

Brad FRIEDEL, McCARTHY and David BENTLEY are the only remaining players to have started all of Blackburn's Premiership matches this season.

BENTLEY began his professional career with Arsenal.

Francis JEFFERS was on Arsenal's books for three seasons from June 2001. He made 39 appearances for the Gunners, scoring eight goals (22 appearances and four goals in the Premiership).

If he takes the field, James McEVELEY will be making his 50th career League appearance (Blackburn, Burnley, Gillingham and Ipswich).

If involved, Aaron MOKOENA will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for Rovers.
Suspended: Benni McCARTHY

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn Rovers26 November 2005 - Ref: Chris FoyArsenal scorers: Fabregas 4, Henry 45, Van Persie 90

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and awayLeague: Arsenal 44 wins, Blackburn 24, Draws 28Prem: Arsenal 11 wins, Blackburn 7, Draws 6

at Arsenal onlyLeague: Arsenal 26 wins, Blackburn 8, Draws 14Prem: Arsenal 5 wins, Blackburn 3, Draws 4

Arsenal 2-2 Portsmouth

Arsenal came from two goals down to earn a battling point against Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium.

Noe Pamarot headed Pompey in front seconds before half-time and Matt Taylor doubled the lead immediately after the break with a looping volley.

Frustrated Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was sent from the dug-out, but his mood improved when sub Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back after 58 minutes.

Arsenal's comeback was complete when Gilberto Silva slid home on the hour.

Arsenal gave Jeremie Aliadiere his first league start of the season, with Adebayor and Theo Walcott dropping to the bench from the midweek win at Wigan.

It did not appear to dilute their threat in the early stages as Portsmouth relied on keeper David James and good fortune to stay on level terms.

James blocked Robin van Persie's point-blank header from Emmanuel Eboue's cross as Arsenal pressed for a swift advantage.

The Gunners suffered a blow after five minutes when Freddie Ljungberg appeared to injure a hamstring in a tackle and limped off, to be replaced by Walcott.

Walcott was quickly into the action, beating Pamarot for pace before delivering a cross that was cut out by James.

But Portsmouth grew in confidence and stunned Arsenal by taking the lead seconds before the interval.

Taylor's cross was headed against the post by David Thompson, but Pamarot was on hand to bundle home the rebound.

And they repeated the dose immediately after half-time to double their advantage, Taylor looping a left-foot finish beyond Jens Lehmann to add to his catalogue of outstanding goals.

It added up to more frustration for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who was ordered to stay out of the dug-out for the second half after heated protests as he went down the tunnel at half-time.

Arsenal's response was devastating, after Wenger sent on Adebayor for Aliadiere after 54 minutes.

He had only been on for four minutes when he raced on to Walcott's cross to slam a powerful drive past James.

And he was involved two minutes later when his cross caused confusion in the Portsmouth penalty area, paving the way for Walcott to set up Gilberto for an angled finish.

Arsenal were rampant, and Van Persie should have put them ahead after a weaving run, but shot into the side-netting.

Gilberto then shot inches wide as Arsenal took complete command after drawing level.



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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"After we went two goals down we had to show we are a special team and show special character and determination. We did and I can't praise my players enough.
"We showed how good we are, but I thought we should have won the game in the end because we created so many chances.

"I was sent from the dug-out because I spoke to the officials at half-time and suggested it was not a free-kick that led to their first goal.

"I just couldn't see how that was a free-kick and to be punished in that way by conceding a goal was hard to take."


Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp:
"At two up I thought we were sitting comfortably, but in the end we will settle for a point.
"It is a fantastic result for us and the Portsmouth players have been fantastic this season. Arsenal put pressure on us after they got back in the game, but we hung in there and I'm delighted.

"To be in the top four alongside teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal is incredible."



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Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue (Flamini 78), Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Ljungberg (Walcott 6), Silva, Fabregas, Hleb, Aliadiere (Adebayor 55), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.

Goals: Adebayor 58, Silva 60.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil, Thompson (Kranjcar 71), Davis, Pedro Mendes, Taylor, Kanu (Hughes 85).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, O'Brien, Douala.

Booked: Johnson, O'Neil.

Goals: Pamarot 45, Taylor 47.

Att: 60,037 Ref: S Bennett (Kent).


From : BBC Sports

Wenger calls for calm over Cole

Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal's fans to "respect" former player Ashley Cole who is expected to be in Chelsea's team to face the Gunners on Sunday.

Cole made an acrimonious switch to Chelsea in the summer and Wenger fears a repeat of the death that marred Paris St Germain's recent Uefa Cup match.

"We have a responsibility before the game to calm it down," said Wenger.

"Recently in Paris we had a dead guy in a game and that is not what we want in football. It is not made for that."

A PSG fan was killed in post-match crowd violence with police after the French club's 4-2 home defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv.

And Wenger feels simmering animosity between London's top two clubs could result in similar scenes.

Cole's summer move, after a saga that included a "tapping up" row and a savage attack on Arsenal in his book, has only stoked the fires.

"I'd be happy if Chelsea and Arsenal on Sunday is a fantastic football game and a good promotion for football," added the Gunners manager.

"My responsibility is to make sure that it is. I'd not like any stupid aggression, but a feast of football like it can be in England.

"We want Ashley to be respected like everybody else.

"He's done well for the club and has now chosen to play for Chelsea. That's not a problem for me.
"It's important Arsenal beat Chelsea on Sunday and don't focus on one player.

"Our supporters are disappointed he left the club, we can accept and understand that, but that should not stop them from respecting him."

Meanwhile, Cole is fearing the worst at Stamford Bridge.

The full-back said: "I have to be honest with myself. I think I am going to get booed badly.

"I am very well aware that some fans are very angry."

Arsenal eventually received Chelsea defender William Gallas, plus £5m in a transfer deadline day deal. The Frenchman will not play on Sunday because of a thigh injury.

But supporters were further angered by the subsequent publication of Cole's autobiography,
"My Defence", in which he declared he had been "betrayed" by the Gunners' offer of a £55,000 per-week contract.

Cole's former Arsenal team-mate, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, turned up the heat ahead of the
game when he insisted the defender should be criticised for his defection to Chelsea.

He said: "Of course Ashley should expect criticism from supporters on Sunday. He should get criticism. That is football. It makes the game exciting.

"If he didn't, it would have meant that he wasn't an important player, but he was. He was a vital member of our squad and we enjoyed some major successes with him."

Cole, meanwhile, still insists he did nothing wrong in making his move from his boyhood club.

He said: "Some people are going to agree with what I have done and some are not. But I didn't move for money. It was a point of principle. I didn't feel I was wanted.

"In any other job, if someone works for one company then goes to work for another it's not a problem.

"But if you do it as a footballer you are greedy and leaving for the money. I'm not going to say it's unfair because footballers have a great life. But it's not easy.

"I think I am going to get stick when I go back there. Yet if I stayed at Arsenal I was still likely to get abuse.

"All through last season I had to deal with it and it's made me stronger and hopefully it can keep making me stronger."

From : BBC Sports

Wenger wants to dictate own fate

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his side will not rely on events elsewhere to progress to the Champions League knockout phase.
A draw will be enough for Arsenal, who will still qualify from Group G if CSKA Moscow fail to win in Hamburg.

Wenger said: "We will go to Porto to win the game and go through, that will give us all a big lift.

"At the moment we have a very good chance to qualify because CSKA Moscow have to win Hamburg, no matter what."


The Champions League's complicated count-back rules mean Arsenal will qualify with a draw, even if CSKA win in Hamburg and they, Porto and the Germans finish on 11 points.


Arsenal are desperate to qualify for the knock-out stages and Wenger said: "Of course it will be a blow to us if we went out."

Wenger believes that this season's group has been a sterner test to that of last season where Arsenal had already progressed heading into the final match.

He said: "I feel we are in a difficult group.

"Last year we were in with Thun and Sparta Prague. It was much easier than this year.

"Look now at our group. CSKA Moscow, who were top of our group, are suddenly in a position where they might not qualify. And it is always difficult to beat the Portuguese sides.

"Even Hamburg, who are bottom. It is hard when you play against a German team. Look at Werder Bremen, they are doing well in the group of Chelsea. So I have always felt our group would be very tight."

From : BBC Sports

Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham

Referee Graham Poll was at the centre of attention as two disputed penalties helped Arsenal beat Spurs in the first north London derby at their new ground.

Arsenal led through a composed finish by Emmanuel Adebayor after he was played onside by Pascal Chimbonda.

Chimbonda was then harshly adjudged to have fouled Tomas Rosicky and Gilberto Silva drilled home the penalty.

Gilberto got another from the spot when Jermaine Jenas felled Robin van Persie, after the Dutchman had handled.


The win extended Arsenal's unbeaten streak over their neighbours to 14 league games.

It also maintained their run of always winning 3-0 in Premiership action at the Emirates Stadium after scoring the first goal.

Poll attracted criticism for his performance in the recent London derby between Spurs and Chelsea.

And while he looked to have blundered for Arsenal's two penalties, Tottenham did not deserve anything from a lacklustre performance.

Their one and only moment of note came in the 11th minute.

Steed Malbranque started a fine move down the left and almost finished it when Dimitar Berbatov worked an opening in the box but the French winger lashed his shot just wide of the post.

But from that moment the game was all about Arsenal.

The Gunners were close to their fluent best, with Adebayor's powerful running with the ball providing a worthy replacement for injured skipper Thierry Henry.

He was given the benefit of a split decision by the linesman when Toure lifted the ball over the top and the talented 22-year-old Togo forward showed composure beyond his years to slot past Paul Robinson.

Henry, who had earlier played down reports of a bust up with manager Arsene Wenger, was first off the bench to celebrate with his protege.

The goal saw Arsenal grow in confidence, while Spurs seemed to slip even further into their shell.

Johan Djourou should have finished off a whipped in Van Persie free-kick and Adebayor drilled at Robinson with team-mates better placed.

Freddie Ljungberg was enjoying plenty of space down the right, with Spurs' exposed left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto finding the Swede and the overlapping Emmanuel Eboue too much of a handful.

On the other flank right-back Chimbonda was having an equally wretched time.

With Rosicky free on goal he lunged into a desperate last-ditch tackle and looked to have taken the ball cleanly.

But Poll pointed to the spot and stand-in skipper Gilberto Silva gave Robinson no chance with a well-struck penalty into the bottom corner.

If Spurs boss Martin Jol was furious with the officials about the first goal, frustration was the name of the game after a second decision went against his side.

Re-enforcements were drafted in at half-time in the shape of Jenas and Young-Pyo Lee.

Jenas finally brought a save out of Jens Lehmann just after the hour mark with a long-range shot and Aaron Lennon was crowded out when the rebound fell at his feet.

But Jenas' contribution at the other end proved more decisive when he brought down Van Persie in the box and Poll again pointed to the spot.

However, the official had missed a clear handball by Van Persie as he tussled with Jenas and Ledley King outside the area.



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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:

"We played with spirit, character, determination and good organisation against a good Tottenham team.

"The team are inspired by their ambition and they were disappointed by our last two results. We realised that, as a team, we have to give more.

"The two penalties looked to be penalties to me but it happens that you don't get them in some games."


Tottenham boss Martin Jol:

"You can talk about the decisions and they probably did cost us goals, but I would be embarrassed to talk about them too much. We did not lose because of them.

"We saw that Thierry Henry was not playing and we knew Arsenal had lost recent games.

"We sensed this was an opportunity, so we are disappointed."


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Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky (Hleb 55), Adebayor (Walcott 87), Van Persie (Julio Baptista 80).

Subs Not Used: Almunia, Hoyte.

Booked: Silva.

Goals: Adebayor 20, Silva 42 pen, 72 pen.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto (Lee 46), Lennon, Zokora, Tainio (Defoe 80), Malbranque (Jenas 46), Keane, Berbatov.

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone.

Booked: Assou-Ekotto, Jenas.

Att: 60,115.

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

From : BBC Sports