With over three quarters of the game still to play, there was a lingering fear that there was only one way the North London derby was going to end after Spurs were reduced to 10 men.
These fears were ultimately realised, as Arsenal ran out 5-2 winners at home to their bitter rivals Tottenham. Spurs had taken the lead through former Gunners forward Emmanuel Adebayor, who emphatically celebrated the goal against his old club. However, the Togolese striker’s enthusiasm for the match would go on to cost his team, as he was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Santi Cazorla.
Whilst it was a terrible attempt of a challenge by Adebayor, Arsenal’s Spanish playmaker played his part in ensuring the striker saw red. Cazorla stayed down in apparent pain before making a miraculous recovery several minutes later after the Spurs man had departed the pitch.
It could have been described as a typical centre forward’s tackle, but Adebayor went in high with his studs showing and, unfortunately for Spurs, Howard Webb had no choice but to send him off.
Andre Villas-Boas has put a lot of faith in the big forward during the last few games and, despite initially doing the job his Portuguese manager intended him to do, Emmanuel Adebayor massively let his team-mates down in a match of the upmost importance.