LONDON: Arsenal ruthlessly exploited Emmanuel Adebayor’s moment of madness to come from behind and beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 in another eventful north London derby on Saturday.
Adebayor, who had given Spurs a 10th-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League’s early kickoff, was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Santi Cazorla seven minutes later, and the visitors never recovered.
Germany defender Per Mertesacker equalised for Arsenal with a powerful header after 24 minutes, and Arsene Wenger’s side scored twice in the last three minutes of the first half – through Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud – to take control.
Spaniard Cazorla made it four from Podolski’s cross on the hour, and although Gareth Bale’s right-foot shot from the edge of the area gave Spurs a little hope, Theo Walcott completed the scoring from close range in injury time.
The final score mirrors the same fixture last season, the turning point in Arsenal’s campaign, and takes the Gunners up to sixth in the Premier League, two points ahead of Spurs.
“Ultimately, I think he should be very happy with his team despite the score line. The guys that are out there have shown fight and spirit,” Spurs coach Andre Villas-Boas said after the match.
“That Theo Walcott goal says everything about this half. They have looked vulnerable at the back for all their endeavour to get back in the game and Walcott had time and space to score.”
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion proved that they are a legitimate Premier League force by beating European champions Chelsea 2-1 on Saturday as Manchester City crushed Aston Villa 5-0 to go top of the table for the first time this season.
Peter Odemwingie scored West Brom’s winner after 50 minutes at the Hawthorns, sending the home side into fourth place and ruining the return of former Baggies manager Roberto Di Matteo.
It left third-placed Chelsea off the pace after two goals apiece from Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez gave defending Premier League champions City a comfortable day at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester United scheduled to play Norwich City at Carrow Road at the time of going to press. A win would see them return to the top of the table.
Southampton increased the pressure on QPR manager Mark Hughes by winning the basement battle 3-1 at Loftus Road, and Reading, also in the bottom three, surprised Everton with a 2-1 win at the Madejski Stadium, their first league win of the season.
Liverpool beat Wigan Athletic 3-0 at Anfield, with two goals from Luis Suarez, and Swansea City enjoyed a 2-1 victory at a struggling Newcastle United.
Suarez now moved top of the goal-scoring table in the EPL with a total of 10, but Ryan van Persie has eight, and was expected to play for United in the late match.
Despite their poor run of form, Newcastle’s Demba Ba lies in third with seven goals to his name, along with Michu of Swansea.
West Brom are now fourth in the table, with Everton dropping to fifth.
The latter’s rivals, Liverpool, have also moved up to 11th place, with Swansea in 10th.
The Magpies have fallen to 12th spot with 14 points, just two ahead of Stoke.
Reading are in 17th place, tied on points with Villa in 18th, but with a better (albeit negative) goal difference.
QPR remain rock bottom, behind Southampton. (AP)