Tottenham produced a sensational comeback today to claim its first away victory against Arsenal for 17 years in the English Premier League.
First half goals from Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh saw Spurs head into the locker rooms 2-0 down at half-time. But by the end of the second half, Tottenham had silenced the Emirates Stadium by grabbing an unlikely win thanks a dramatic three-goal turnaround.
A Gareth Bale strike and a penalty from Rafael van der Vaart brought the away side level, before defender Younes Kaboul’s late winner secured a famous 3-2 victory and prevented Arsenal from going top of the EPL.
“I knew Tottenham didn’t win here much, so it’s a great day for the club,” Dutch talisman Van der Vaart said.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said his players were rewarded for throwing caution to the wind after the break. “First half we didn’t really get the ball, and they opened us up,” he said. “But second half we took the game to them straight away.”
Redknapp paid tribute to former Arsenal center-half William Gallas, who was roundly jeered by the home supporters upon his first return to the Emirates. “He was man of the match for me,” he said. “His performance was absolutely top drawer, he was superb.”
A long-standing dispute saw Arsenal midfielder Nasri refuse a handshake with his former club and international teammate before play. Nasri struck the first blow for Arsenal when he rounded Heurelho Gomes and squeezed the ball in to grab a ninth minute lead.
Chamakh added a second from Andre Arshavin’s cross on 27 minutes and should have widened the margin with several opportunities leading into half-time.
But the introduction of striker Jermain Defoe and a change in formation set Spurs up differently in the second half and within five minutes a quick break saw Van der Vaart play in Bale, who slotted home impressively.
Both sides toiled before Cesc Fabregas’ deliberate handball from a free-kick handed Spurs a penalty on 67 minutes and the chance to draw level. Van der Vaart took it, sending Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way and setting the scene for Kaboul’s dramatic headed winner.
