Arsenal v Spurs

[LAF]

Some so so decisions (The Poll Effect) but you can't argue with the win. Arsenal looked very good.

[bandini]

It's a sad day for Spurs fans

[bandini]

Arsenal convincingly won the first north London derby at the Emirates Stadium 3-0 against Tottenham even without injured skipper Thierry Henry.

Gilberto, standing in as captain, scored in each half from the penalty spot after Emmanuel Adebayor, leading the attack in Henry's absence, opened the scoring.

Adebayor ran straight to the dug-out after breaking the deadlock and celebrated with Henry, who earlier in the day denied a rift with boss Arsene Wenger after a neck injury prevented him from playing.

France striker Henry was in the tunnel prior to kick-off, offering words of encouragement to his team-mates before taking his seat.

• Gunners' derby day delight

Even without their talisman, Arsenal looked purposeful early on and had a tame penalty appeal turned down by referee Graham Poll when Freddie Ljungberg went over in the area following a challenge from Michael Dawson.

The hosts thought they should have had a free-kick on the edge of the area in the eighth minute when Robin van Persie went tumbling after a Ledley King challenge, but referee Graham Poll rejected their appeals.

Spurs fashioned their first chance in the 11th minute when Steed Malbranque sliced wide, while Dimitar Berbatov was harshly ruled offside three minutes later.

But the Gunners edged ahead in the 20th minute after Kolo Toure lofted the ball forward and Adebayor was played onside by Spurs full-back Pascal Chimbonda, the Togo striker going on to slot past England keeper Paul Robinson.

Ljungberg had the chance to double the lead two minutes later but volleyed over from a tight angle, before Didier Zokora needed to make a timely challenge on Cesc Fabregas from a similar position.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto was yellow-carded just after the half-hour mark for a trip on Ljungberg, but Van Persie curled the set-piece just wide.

Adebayor fired a weak shot at Robinson and was penalised for a foul on King five minutes before the break when it appeared the centre-back had merely lost his footing.

Arsenal controversially moved 2-0 ahead from Gilberto's first penalty after Chimbonda was adjudged to have brought down Tomas Rosicky in the 41st minute, although the French full-back appeared to get the slightest touch on the ball with his tackle.

Spurs brought on Jermaine Jenas for Malbranque at the break, while Assou-Ekotto was replaced by Lee Young-Pyo.

But the Gunners remained the likeliest side to score next, Rosicky finding space at the far post, only for Emmanuel Eboue to overhit his cross from the right.

Rosicky, however, suffered an injury in the 55th minute and was replaced by Alexander Hleb, with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann fumbling a cross from Lee when his side were down to 10 men.

Chimbonda angered Ljungberg by tapping the midfielder's boots after a challenge as the intensity of the derby was maintained despite Arsenal's dominance.

Jenas forced a hurried save from Lehmann with a swerving shot and Aaron Lennon's follow-up effort was blocked by Toure.

But Gilberto extended the Gunners' lead in the 72nd minute, this time sending Robinson the wrong way with his spot-kick, after Jenas had hauled down Van Persie in the area and was booked.

• Gunners' derby day delight

Arsenal stand-in captain Gilberto believes the 3-0 derby victory over north London rivals Tottenham will give his side confidence ahead of a tough week.

The Gunners take on Porto in midweek and then Barclays Premiership champions Chelsea on Sunday.

'It is very special for us. We knew today was a question of the result, no matter how,' Gilberto told Sky PremPlus after his penalty brace and a goal from Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor sealed the win.

'I was very confident because I have been taking penalties in training.

'(The win) means a lot for us, we have important games ahead but when we win a tough match like this it gives us a lot of confidence.'

Adebayor celebrated his goal with Thierry Henry, who was out of the side because of a neck problem.

'I was very hungry to play today, they had confidence in me and I'm proud to score,' he said.

'Thierry asked me to score for him. We are very happy with the win.'

source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=199228&cc=5901

[kennethlindheim]

Arsenal were the better team, but the scoreline is a *bit* harsh.