Arsenal suffer 3-2 defeat to rivals

Arsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat against deadly rivals Tottenham on Saturday at the Emirates. Arsenal were 2 goals up at half time thanks to Nasri and Chamakh but let that lead slip as Bale, Van Der Vaart and Kaboul scored in the second half to give Spurs victory. Koscielny was back from suspension for Arsenal and Van Persie back from injury came on as a sub again. William Gallas returned to the Emirates for the first time since joining the Gunners rivals in the summer and as expected got plenty of boos. Spurs had recorded their first victory on Arsenal territory in 17 years as the Gunners slipped back into 3rd, 2 points behind Chelsea and Man Utd and the top of the table.

Arsenal could have been 1-0 up in a matter of minutes when Nasri was through on goal but Gallas stuck out a leg brilliantly to keep Arsenal at bay.

Bale then had a good opportunity when Van Der Vaart delivered a corner into the path of Bale but he directed his shot straight at Fabianski.

Then on 9 minutes the Emirates stadium erupted when Arsenal took the lead. Fabregas played a lovely ball through to Nasri who then rounded the keeper and then slotted the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle to give The Gunners a deserved early lead.

Fabregas could have then given Arsenal a 2-0 lead when he knocked the ball past Kaboul and into the penalty area but could only manage to drag his shot wide.

Arsenal then did extended their lead to 2-0 when Fabregas played Arshavin down the left who delivered into the box and found Chamakh. He managed to get ahead of Hutton to get a touch and send the ball past Gomes. It already looked like a huge mountain to climb for Tottenham.

The score at half time was 2-0 to Arsenal.

5 minutes into the second half Spurs were right back in it when Defoe beat Koscielny in the air. The header found Van Der Vaart who passed to Bale who raced through on goal and dispatched his effort past Fabianski in front of the Spurs fans to make the score 2-1.

Tottenham now had a huge burst of life and Defoe set up Modric who almost made it 2-2, just drilling his effort over the bar from just outside the area.

Tottenham were then awarded with a free kick after Song brought down Modric. Van Der Vaart hit the shot but was blocked by a hand in the Arsenal wall and Spurs were awarded with a penalty. Van Der Vaart took and got the equaliser slotting the ball past Fabianski to turn the game completely around. It was now 2-2.

Arsenal then thought they had taken the lead again when Koscielny flicked on a Van Persie free kick to Fabregas who then found Squillaci but Fabregas was offside as Koscielny flicked the ball on so the goal was disallowed.

Fabregas then had two great opportunities to put the Gunners back in front but the first one he put over and the second was saved brilliantly by Gomes as the Gunners skipper looked to bend the ball just inside the post.

Koscielny then should have given Arsenal the lead when Van Persie beat a Tottenham defender and delivered to the french man at the back post who had a free header but he put his chance over the bar.

Spurs then got a free kick when Koscielny was booked for showing the only way to stop Bale by completely taking him out. Van Der Vaart delivered the ball into the box, Kaboul got his head on it and sent the ball past Fabianski to complete the Spurs comeback and give them the lead.

Walcott then got a great chance to get Arsenal's equaliser when Sagna found him in tons of space inside the area but he smashed his effort over the bar.

Rosicky then had one more effort to try and rescue a point from the game that Arsenal should have won but Gomes kept the shot out comfortably.

The final score ended Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Arshavin(76), Fabregas, Nasri(76), Denilson, Song, Chamakh(68).
Subs: Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Walcott(76), Wilshere, Rosicky(76), Van Persie(68).

Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Van Der Vaart(88), Modric, Jenas, Lennon(45), Pavlyuchenko(74).
Subs: Cudicini, Bassong, Corluka, Bentley, Palacios(88), Crouch(74), Defoe(45).

My man of the match: Samir Nasri

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 60,102