Arsenal battle back to humble Tottenham

Arsenal FC are back up to fourth place on goals scored after completing a remarkable comeback to overwhelm Tottenham Hotspur FC 5-2.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp stated before kick-off that the third-placed visitors were still on the title trail and, after a confident start, his side boasted a two-goal lead. Louis Saha opened the scoring with just four minutes gone and former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor doubled the deficit from the spot half an hour later.

The hosts responded swiftly, however, with a Bacary Sagna header and Robin van Persie’s 23rd league goal of the campaign levelling the scoreline at the break. Tomáš Rosický then gave Arsène Wenger's men the lead shortly after the restart before Theo Walcott’s quick-fire double (65, 68) secured a morale-boosting triumph for Arsenal, who returned to fourth spot.

A bad day for Tottenham was compounded by the 87th-minute dismissal of Scott Parker, who will miss his side’s meeting with Manchester United FC next Sunday. Spurs will go into that match eight points behind United – and ten shy of leaders Manchester City FC – after Ryan Giggs hit an added-time winner in his 900th appearance for the Red Devils at Norwich City FC, Grant Holt having cancelled out Paul Scholes' early strike with seven minutes left.

Also on Sunday, Stoke City FC ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats by downing Swansea City AFC 2-0, Matthew Upson and Peter Crouch making the difference via headed goals.