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The always explosive North London derby didn't disappoint in the early kick-off on Saturday, as the Emirates witnessed a 3-2 classic. It was a proverbial 'game of two halves', with Arsenal dominating the first to go into the break leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Samir Nasri and Marouanne Chamakh. But Tottenham Hotspur made a dramatic turnaround in the 2nd half to make it 2-2 courtesy of goals from Gareth Bale and a Rafael van der Vaart penalty. With the game on a knife edge, Younes Kaboul headed in Van der Vaart's free kick in the 85th minute to give Spurs a famous victory. Arsenal were left to ponder over missed chances and poor defending while Spurs rejoiced at their first away win at Arsenal in the league in 17 years.

Arsene Wenger went in with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Lukasz Fabianski in goal. Laurent Koscielny returned to the starting line up after completing his two match ban and lined up alongside Sebastien Squillaci in central defence while Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy slotted in as full-backs. Denilson was given the nod ahead of Jack Wilshere in central midfield and the Brazilian joined Alex Song in the deep lying midfield position. Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin formed the attacking midfield trio, with Nasri and Arshavin starting down the wings. As expected, Marouane Chamakh started as the lone striker.

Harry Redknapp chose to play an attacking 4-4-1-1 formation, with the unreliable Heurelho Gomes in goal. In defence, Alan Hutton and Benoit Assou-Ekotto were entrusted with the task of clipping Arsenal's wings. In the absence of his first choice central defenders, Willaim Gallas and Younes Kaboul paired up in the heart of defence. In the vital central midfield area, Redknapp chose to go with Jemraine Jenas and Luka Modric, with Wilson Palacios the only other option on the bench. Aaron Lenon started down the right wing while the explosive Gareth Bale down the left. Roman Pavlyuchenko was the lone striker up front while Rafael Van Der Vaart operated in the free role behind him. Redknapp tossed the captain's armband to Gallas, a former Gunner, a move that would not have gone down well with the Arsenal faithful.

The game started with both sides finding space down the wings, as Van der Vaart and Fabregas were set free, but both players failed to get meaningful crosses in. But Arsenal had to wait only till the 9th minute for the opener, as Nasri collected Fabregas' defence splitting through ball and ran past the grappling Gomes to sneak the ball in from a tight angle. Spurs were ripped apart far too easily for Redknapp's liking, with Gomes getting his dive horribly wrong to let Nasri dart past him. In the early exchanges, the Arsenal full backs pushed high up the pitch and prevented Bale and Lennon from getting down the wings. At the other end, Gallas & Co. were having a tough time against the trickery of the Arsenal forwards. The Gunners got some breathing space around the half hour mark, as they counter-attacked with precision to double their lead through Chamakh. Arshavin played a ball into a dangerous area and the Moroccan was on hand to flick it past Gomes.

At this point, Nasri and Fabregas were bossing the midfield with the likes of Van Der Vaart and Bale barely featured for the visiting side. After the 2nd goal, the game slowed down a bit as Arsenal turned it down a notch. Spurs had a rare glimpse at goal through Modric, whose long range shot was parried away by Fabianski. Towards the end of the half, Chamakh twice found some space behind the Spurs defence but failed to take advantage. Redknapp needed to make some radical changes if his side were to get anything out of the game in the 2nd half.

Redknapp responded by bringing on Jermaine Defoe for Lennon at the start of the 2nd half. Van Der Vaart moved out to the right wing as Spurs shifted to a traditional 4-4-2. The change paid off as Spurs came out all guns blazing and halved the deficit five minutes into the half. Van der Vaart collected Defoe's flick on and did brilliantly to set the marauding Bale down the right and the Welshman made no mistake as he poked the ball past Fabianski to make it 2-1. Spurs were still light in the centre of the park with Jenas and Modric, but they had new found impetus in attack.

Defoe was involved yet again, as he raced down the right wing and setup Modric, whose thunderous shot flew inches wide of the goal. Spurs were then handed a great chance to level proceedings after a moment of madness from Fabregas handed Spurs a penalty. Modric made an inspired run through the heart of the midfield before being brought down outside the box and the ensuing free kick was handled by Fabregas in the wall. Van Der Vaart steped up to convert the penalty and bring the visitors level. Arsenal felt they were back in the lead a few minutes later, as Squillaci headed in from a corner, but the defender's effort was rightly deemed offside.

With the scores level heading into the end stages a grandstand finish looked in store with the Gunners going all out for the win. Fabregas ran through the Spurs defence and curled in a wonderful shot, but Gomes was up for it and produced a stunning save to deny the Spaniard. The home side came close a few minutes later, as Koscielny headed over the bar after great work down the right by Van Persie. The game turned on its head with five minutes to go, as Kaboul headed in Van Der Vaart's free kick to send the away fans into delirium. It was poor defending on Arsenal's part but Spurs didn't care as they danced around in celebration. The game ended 3-2 to Spurs, as Redknapp had mastered a famous turnaround.

After dominating the game in the first half, Arsenal went off the boil in the 2nd half to let Spurs back into the game. In the first half, Nasri and Fabregas bossed the game and ripped apart the Spurs defence with consummate ease. But in the 2nd half, Jenas closed down Fabregas in midfield and with their conductor blocked off, Arsenal struggled to fashion openings towards the end of the game. The introduction of Defoe at the start of the 2nd half was the turning point of the game and full credit must be given to Harry Redknapp for pushing his team on to grab a victory that will remain in their memory for ages to come. The win denies Arsenal the chance to go top of the Premier League table, while Tottenham jump up to 5th tied on points with Manchester City, who are in action on Sunday.

In midweek, both sides will be involved in the Champions League, as Arsenal travel to Portugal to take on Braga while Spurs host Werder Bremen. The fast and furious nature of big games continue in the Premier League next weekend as Spurs host Liverpool while Arsenal face a tough trip to Aston Villa.

Teams:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Denilson, Nasri (Rosicky 77'), Fabregas, Arshavin (Walcott 77'), Chamakh (van Persie 68')

Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Defoe 45') , Jenas, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart (Palacios 87'), Pavlyuchenko (Crouch 73')

Final Score: Arsenal 2–3 Tottenham Hotspur

Goals:

Arsenal: Nasri 9',Chamakh 27'

Spurs: Bale 50', van Der Vaart (pen) 67', Kaboul 85'

File Photograph Copyright: Barry Zee