Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2

HOWARD'S WAY ... Emmanuel Adebayor has to go after getting his marching orders from referee Howard Webb
HOWARD'S WAY ... Emmanuel Adebayor has to go after getting his marching orders from referee Howard Webb
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EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR will be cursing himself all night after his moment of madness cost Spurs.

The striker’s over-the-top challenge on Santi Cazorla not only changed the course of this game — but, also perhaps, the outcome when the Champions League spots are decided in May.
Tottenham were cruising at 1-0 up on 18 minutes when Adebayor’s rush of blood saw him sent off for the fourth time in his career.
All that after he had gleefully netted the opener, turning home from close range after Jermain Defoe’s effort was saved.
With Adebayor back in the changing room, Arsenal took clinically took advantage of the extra man — and space — to level through Per Mertesacker, before goals from Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Cazorla put them 4-1 up.
FIRST ADE ... Emmanuel Adebayor hooks in Tottenham's opener
FIRST ADE ... Emmanuel Adebayor hooks in Tottenham's opener
Gareth Bale netted a tidy consolation for Spurs but the visitors were left to think what might have been.
It was all Tottenham from the off and William Gallas rightly had a goal chalked off for offside on nine minutes. He produced a tidy first touch and finish, mind to beat Wojciech Szczesny.
HOWARD'S WAY ... Emmanuel Adebayor has to go as referee Howard Webb shows him red card
HOWARD'S WAY ... Emmanuel Adebayor has to go as referee Howard Webb shows him red card
Just 60 seconds later, Arsenal were carved open as they conceded the opener. Defoe found himself in behind the backline and he got off a shot that Szczesny could only parry into the path of Adebayor, who gleefully swept home the rebound.
Aaron Lennon almost made it two on 13 minutes but his low angled drive was always curling away from Szczesny’s right-hand post.
JUST PER-FECT ... Per Mertesacker is given the freedom of the Tottenham penalty box to plant his header into the top corner
JUST PER-FECT ... Per Mertesacker is given the freedom of the Tottenham penalty box to plant his header into the top corner
Adebayor’s red card on 18 minutes turned the game Arsenal’s way, though, and they produced wave after wave of attacking play.
Thomas Vermaelen saw a shot blocked in the area and the leveller arrived soon after as Walcott cut loose down the right wing and produced a peach of a cross. Mertesacker was unchallenged as he rose and the German simply directed his header out of Hugo Lloris’ reach and into the top corner.
Lloris was called into action to keep out Giroud’s flicked header on 31 minutes but the Spurs keeper looked beaten as Cazorla’s viciously swerving drive whizzed over his bar.
LUK'S IN ... Lukas Podolski fires in the second off William Gallas
LUK'S IN ... Lukas Podolski fires in the second off William Gallas
Kyle Naughton was enduring a torrid time at left-back and Bacary Sagna was next to send in a cross from the right. Giroud again beat his marker in the air but his header was comfortable for Lloris.
Tottenham had failed to come to terms with their numerical disadvantage and they gifted the Gunners a third on 42 minutes as the home side enjoyed acres of space at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta drifted infield and played the ball into Podolski with his back to goal. The German rolled Gallas and his shot on the turn took a touch off the Frenchman as it bobbled past the helpless Lloris.
THREESY DOES IT ... Olivier Giroud slides in to net the third
THREESY DOES IT ... Olivier Giroud slides in to net the third
The game understandbaly drifted in the second period and it was not until the hour that we had any penalty-box action - but it brought an immediate goal as Arsenal grabbed their fourth.
Walcott chested and played in Podolski, who squared for Cazorla to convert expertly at the far post.
Giroud saw another drive whistle over before Bale's right-footer helped Spurs reduce the arrears.
But Walcott's injury-time strike put the gloss on a fine afternoon for the Gunners - and left Adebayor with much to ponder.

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