Bendtner is north London star - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Bendtner is north London star

Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner scored the winner with his first touch as Tottenham wasted a glorious chance to finally beat their rivals before losing 2-1.

Dimitar Berbatov had cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener before earning a penalty at the Emirates Stadium - only for Robbie Keane to see his spot-kick saved by Manuel Almunia.

The Barclays Premier League leaders, who have not lost to Spurs since 1999, then grabbed the winner in the 76th minute when Bendtner was brought on.

The Gunners had their first sight of goal in the second minute when Mathieu Flamini hooked a volley that went just the wrong side of the angle of post and crossbar. Kolo Toure also got a header on target from a Cesc Fabregas free-kick - but neither of the early chances troubled Paul Robinson.

Robinson was forced into a save, at his near post from Emmanuel Eboue, who had recovered from knee and ankle problems. Robinson also had to save when Toure got on the end of Fabregas' corner just before the break.

If Arsenal looked short on ideas in the first half, they were quickly into gear after the restart and opened the scoring in the 48th minute. Tomas Rosicky fed Fabregas on the edge of the penalty area and the Spaniard backheeled to Adebayor. The Togo striker curled the ball around Robinson for his sixth goal against Spurs in just over a year.

Keane then smashed against the crossbar from point-blank range after Lennon had lofted a cross to the far post - but the equaliser came a minute later in the 66th minute.

Keane held the ball up on the touchline before backheeling to Berbatov. The Bulgaria striker took a touch and squeezed his shot through Toure and Flamini and into the near post.

Then came Keane's chance to put Spurs ahead after Berbatov was tripped by Toure. Almunia dived the right way and got enough on the ball for it to go to safety.

Wenger responded by bringing on Bendtner for Eboue in the 74th minute and his goal came seconds later when he rose to head Fabregas' corner home. Adel Taarabt had a late penalty shout turned down as Arsenal held on to extend their lead at the top.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking