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| SPORTS | By DAN CARRIER and RICHARD OSLEY |
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Under new manager Martin Jol, Spurs began positively, closing down all paths to Gunners’ top goal-getter Thierry Henry. And their new adventurous attacking policy led to the home side taking the lead on 37 minutes when Noureddine Naybet ghosted in unmarked to chest the ball down and fire past Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann. If Spurs had made it to the interval with their lead in tact, Arsenal may not have left with the win. But on the stroke of half-time, Lauren’s lofted pass was brought down deftly by Henry and poked beyond Spurs keeper Paul Robinson. Buoyed, Arsenal returned from the break the stronger side. Lauren converted a penalty after Freddie Ljungberg had been clumsily tumbled by Noe Pamarot. Patrick Vieira burst through the midfield to make it 3-1. Vieira celebrated his first of the season like a man with something to prove to fans ruffled by summer talk of a move to Real Madrid. The smiles were short-lived as just a minute later Tottenham’s hottest property Jermain Defoe wriggled through the Arsenal defence before bending the ball into the top right-hand corner. Arsenal came back again through Ljungberg but Spurs replied with a header from King. And it was not the end. Robert Pires wrong-footed Pamarot and squeezed in a shot from a tight angle before Freddie Kanoute grabbed a brilliant fourth after Henry gave away possession. Simon Davies almost levelled with a last minute shot but it flashed wide. “It’s a cricket score,” Wenger said. “But today we got three important points because we have stood still for a while.” The win puts Arsenal within two points of leaders Chelsea, while Tottenham, without a win in five, slide to 14th. Afterwards, a disappointed Jol said: “I told the players beforehand that if we lost the ball in midfield we would be punished, but we gave it away at the back instead. You cannot do that against the Arsenal.” |
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