Arsenal rout Spurs

Thierry Henry celebrates in front of Spurs fans

Arsenal 3-0 Spurs

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Thierry Henry's wonder goal put Arsenal on course for an impressive return to the top of the Premiership as Spurs were swept aside at Highbury.

Henry's spectacular opener set the scene for Arsenal to turn on the style against their north London neighbours.

Arsenal v Spurs in pictures

Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord added second half goals - but Spurs were furious at referee Mike Riley's controversial dismissal of midfield man Simon Davies.

Spurs were on the back foot once Davies was sent off in the first half for two bookable offences - and Arsenal were in no mood to offer sympathy as they turned the heat back on their title rivals.

Arsenal started in relentless fashion, and had the ball in the net after only four minutes.

Ashley Cole crossed from the left for Wiltord to score, but Spurs were relieved as he was ruled offside.

The sending off was totally unjust and we will be appealing

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle

It was a brief reprieve and Arsenal went ahead in sensational style in the 13th minute.

Henry collected a loose ball deep inside his own half and glided forward past Matthew Etherington and Stephen Carr before curling a composed finish past Kasey Keller from ten yards.

We showed our desire is there and it was a very ood performance

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

And if Spurs were in trouble then, matters got worse as they lost Davies to a red card for two bookable offences.

He picked up his first yellow card for a late tackle on Cole after 22 minutes, and it seemed incredibly harsh when referee Mike Riley sent him off for a challenge on Vieira ten minutes before the interval.

Spurs were probably relieved to get to half-time only one goal down with a chance to regroup, but they were given no respite by the ruthless Gunners.

  Key moments

13 mins: Thierry Henry puts Arsenal ahead

35 mins: Spurs' Simon Davies is sent off

54 mins: Freddie Ljungberg increases Arsenal's lead

71 mins: Sylvain Wiltord wraps up Arsenal's win

Arsenal doubled their advantage nine minutes after half-time when Henry turned provider to square the ball for Ljungberg to score with an easy finish.

Spurs were suffering, and had a chance when defender Dean Richards raced clear, but his hopeless chip past Arsenal keeper Rami Shaaban was easily cleared by Pascal Cygan.

Arsenal then killed off Spurs with another slick strike as Robert Pires, Henry and Wiltord combined for the latter to score from close range.

---

Arsenal: Shaaban, Luzhny, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Wiltord, Silva, Vieira (van Bronckhorst 78), Ljungberg, Bergkamp (Pires 26), Henry (Jeffers 75).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Toure.

Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Richards, King, Bunjevcevic, Davies, Redknapp (Anderton 65), Freund, Etherington (Poyet 45), Sheringham (Iversen 64), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Perry, Hirschfeld.

Sent Off: Davies (27).

Booked: Davies, Poyet.

Attendance: 38,152.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).