After conceding the match's first goal, Arsenal took advantage of an early red card and thrashed Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium in England on Saturday, winning 5-2 to overtake Spurs in the Premier League table.

Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor opened up the scoring with a 10th-minute follow-up goal. But just minutes later, he was sent off with a red card after making a risky tackle attempt at midfield. From that moment on, it would be all Arsenal, as the Gunners scored three straight goals to lead 3-1 at halftime.

Arsene Wenger's club came out motivated to build on its lead in the second half, as Santi Cazorla put his side up 4-1 in the 60th minute. 

The two teams would split a pair of goals within the last 20-plus minutes of the match, but the result was never in doubt. Theo Walcott's injury-time goal added insult to injury as Arsenal defeated Tottenham for the second straight time at Emirates. 

 

Olivier Giroud, Arsenal: A

The French star was active from the opening kick and was rewarded for his effort with a goal right before the halftime whistle. Giroud had more shots and put more of them on target than any other Arsenal player on Saturday.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham: D

Spurs forward Emmanuel Adebayor was in the right place at the right time to put Tottenham up 1-0 in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, it was Adebayor's ridiculous tackle in the 18th minute that sent him off with a red card and ultimately ended Tottenham's chances of earning a single point at Emirates.

It was a reckless challenge and an unnecessary one, which makes Saturday's result so hard to swallow for Spurs supporters.

 

Theo Walcott, Arsenal: A

Theo Walcott played brilliant, unselfish football for the home side on Saturday, assisting on a goal, scoring one late and never hesitating to give the ball up to a teammate. The 23-year-old midfielder did his job for 90-plus minutes and performed well.

Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans can't ask for much more than that. 

 

Gareth Bale, Tottenham: B

As lost as Tottenham looked at times against Arsenal, Spurs midfielder Gareth Bale never gave up, and his goal in the 71st minute with his club down a man proved it. 

It seemed as if every unanswered goal Arsenal put in inspired Bale that much more. It's hard to credit him in a 5-2 defeat, but clearly one can't pin Tottenham's curious showing on their up-and-coming midfielder.

 

Santi Cazorla, Arsenal: A

Santi Cazorla was all over the pitch Saturday, and he was one of three Arsenal players to score and assist. But perhaps more crippling than his helper in the first half was his 60th-minute strike that gave the Gunners a 4-1 lead, essentially putting the match away and securing three points for his squad.

 

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