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Harry Redknapp's CV took a real hit today as Arsenal produced a sensational comeback to inflict Tottenham's biggest north London derby defeat since 1978. Spurs looked certain to enhance Redknapp's England credentials by making him their first manager for 86 years to win away against the Gunners for two successive seasons and first to do the double over them for 19.
But, in a complete reversal of last season's corresponding fixture, Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead to concede five at Arsenal for the first time since 1934. It was an amazing performance by a Gunners side who lost 8-2 at Manchester United at the start of the season and 4-0 at AC Milan 11 days ago, Arsene Wenger's men once again inspired by talismanic captain Robin van Persie.
Arsenal looked all over the place at the back as Spurs raced to a 2-0 lead through Louis Saha and an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty. But Van Persie refused to accept defeat, helping his side score twice in three minutes to go in level at half-time, netting the equaliser after Bacary Sagna pulled a goal back.
Arsenal - who leapfrog Chelsea back into fourth in the Premier League - were rampant after the break, Tomas Rosicky completing the comeback and Theo Walcott scoring twice before Scott Parker was sent off to complete Tottenham's misery.
It looked like being so different after four minutes when Arsenal's shambolic defending from Milan resurfaced. Former Gunners striker Adebayor, 28 today, played the ball into a gaping hole for Saha to run into, with Thomas Vermaelen's lame block only succeeding in deflecting the Frenchman's shot over the stranded Wojciech Szczensy.
The home side fought back, Kieran Gibbs seeing a dubious penalty appeal rejected and Parker getting away with an accidental handball. It was breathless stuff and Szczensy beat away another Spurs effort before Van Persie wasted a glorious chance to level when he drilled wide after his initial shot was blocked. He went even closer six minutes later with a drive that deflected into the sidenetting, his resulting corner seeing Brad Friedel acrobatically tip over Rosicky's header.
Arsenal were beginning to dominate but more risible defending almost saw Spurs double their lead on the break, Szczensy denying Adebayor and Kyle Walker sending the 25-yard rebound just over the crossbar. Parker, who was everywhere, was booked after clattering into Van Persie moments after being denied a free-kick of his own, with Luka Modric also carded for dissent.
Laurent Koscielny immediately followed for upending Niko Kranjcar, Tottenham immediately surging upfield to win a controversial 32nd-minute penalty. Gareth Bale was under all sorts of pressure from Gibbs but threw himself to the floor under what looked no contact from Szczensy. Adebayor kept his cool to rub salt into the wound but wisely chose not to celebrate.
Terrific turnaround
It could have been 3-0 before half-time had Bale chosen to pass rather than drill a shot too close to Szczensy and Spurs were made to pay when Arsenal sensationally hit back before half-time. The first goal came five minutes before the break, Van Persie desperately unlucky to hit the post before Mikel Arteta swept the ball back in and Sagna powered home a header. Van Persie then sent the Emirates into raptures, pouncing on a loose Benoit Assou-Ekotto clearance, and turning onto his left foot before curling deliciously beyond Friedel.
Redknapp responded by throwing on Rafael van der Vaart and Sandro at half-time for Saha and Kranjcar but Arsenal's tails were up and only another fabulous Friedel save from Yossi Benayoun's precise finish prevented them completing the comeback. Benayoun then caught Walker with a tackle that forced the full-back off and he was barely back on when Rosicky made it 3-2 in the 51st minute, playing a one-two with Sagna before poking in the latter's deflected cross.
Tottenham finally got a foothold but it was Arsenal who were now dangerous on the break, Walcott drilling inches wide, while Sandro was completely off the pace, rightly booked for tripping Van Persie. As in the first half, the Gunners scored twice in three minutes to kill the game. It was a brilliant counter-attack that brought the 65th-minute fourth goal, Benayoun releasing Van Persie, who held off Ledley King and Younes Kaboul before squaring for the onrushing Walcott to clip the ball over Friedel.
It was Tottenham's defence that was now all over the place and Kaboul played Walcott onside, the winger racing onto Alex Song's pass and finding the bottom corner. "Harry for England", the Arsenal fans chanted ironically before Rosicky almost made it six after a one-two with Walcott and Parker was shown a second yellow for treading on Vermaelen's toe two minutes from time.
Thierry Henry's stoppage-time winner handed Martin O'Neill his first home defeat as Sunderland manager.
Arsenal fell behind after defender Per Mertesacker injured himself in trying to control the ball, with James McClean firing a shot past Wojciech Szczesny.
Mertersacker was carried off but his replacement Aaron Ramsey then directed a shot past Simon Mignolet.
But on-loan Henry, who returns to the New York Red Bulls next week, stylishly volleyed past Mignolet to grab the win.
It was a remarkable conclusion to Henry's second spell with Arsenal in the Premier League, even more so given he had come on as a substitute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and had just the one chance.
The Frenchman showed why he has scored 176 goals in 258 top-flight games in those two spells as he cleverly directed his volley past Mignolet after ghosting in between John O'Shea and Michael Turner to connect with Andrey Arshavin's cross from the left.
Just as importantly Henry's goal enabled Arsene Wenger's side to leapfrog over Chelsea into the fourth Champions League spot on goal difference.
Such a scenario had looked highly unlikely given McClean had put Sunderland ahead with just over 20 minutes to go.
McClean took advantage of Mertesacker's misfortune after the German injured his ankle as he attempted to control the ball, with the Sunderland forward blasting a shot into the corner of the net.
Mertesacker had to be carried off but within five minutes Arsenal were level after another of their substitutes Ramsey picked up the ball on the edge of the box and guided his shot past Mignolet.
Henry's late intervention might have ensured the first defeat for Sunderland under O'Neill at the Stadium of Light, but what was evident was the enormous strides the Black Cats have made under their new manager.
Sunderland expended enormous energy in trying to disrupt Arsenal's fluent style and, in McClean and Stephane Sessegnon, the home side had a couple of players with the speed and skill to always threaten Wenger's team.
Arsenal were also indebted to Szczesny who made a couple of good saves from Craig Gardner shots, while John O'Shea might have done better with a couple of second half-efforts.
In a scrappy first half, Sunderland had a strong penalty claim when the ball bounced off Mertesacker's hand.
Arsenal's best chance in the first period came from Theo Walcott, who flashed a shot past the post after good work from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Robin van Persie.
The two sides meet again in the FA Cup next Saturday, though at least Sunderland will not have to face Henry - who has now scored seven goals in 11 games against them.
Sunderland's impressive form continued as a strike from James McClean secured them a 1-0 victory and all three points against ten-man Stoke City at a wintry Britannia Stadium.
In a contest during which snow fell throughout, a first half of few goalscoring opportunities finished with Potters defender Robert Huth receiving his marching orders in the 45th minute. The German was shown a straight red card following a tackle on David Meyler.
McClean then netted in the 60th, bursting through the hosts' defence and tucking the ball away to seal a victory which means the Black Cats have now taken 22 points from the 30 on offer in the Premier League since manager Martin O'Neill took charge of the Wearsiders. O'Neill's side, who had been hovering just above the relegation zone when he was appointed in December, remain eighth in the table while Stoke have slipped to 12th.
Potters manager Tony Pulis made three changes to his first XI, forward Cameron Jerome and midfielders Glenn Whelan and Rory Delap replacing Kenwyne Jones, Wilson Palacios - who, like the ill Matthew Etherington, did not feature in the squad at all - and Dean Whitehead.
There was only one adjustment for the visitors, with Meyler promoted to the starting line-up and Fraizer Campbell dropping to the bench, while transfer deadline day loan signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos were also among the substitutes.
The snow that had been falling in the build-up to the game - which was being cleared off the pitch right up until kick-off - continued to come down as the action got underway and it took a while for either side to really warm up.
Stoke enjoyed the lion's share of possession early on and, after Jerome was beaten to Peter Crouch's flick-on by Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, the Potters won a corner that led to Marc Wilson trying his luck from outside the box, firing in a low effort which was blocked.
Mignolet then claimed a useful-looking cross into the area from Whelan, but there was little being fashioned in the way of genuine attempts on goal. Stephane Sessegnon started to show some endeavour for the visitors, seeing one shot deflect away from danger and, on the half-hour mark, drilling another narrowly wide.
It was Sunderland's best spell yet, but with conditions getting worse, it was difficult to build any momentum. Jerome, who had taken a knock, came off for Ricardo Fuller before Jon Walters brought a save out of Mignolet with a drilled shot. The first half then ended on a sour note for Stoke as Huth was dismissed for a sliding challenge on Meyler.
Pulis, incensed by referee Martin Atkinson's decision, reacted by substituting Jermaine Pennant for Jonathan Woodgate. Sunderland went close shortly after the interval as Sessegnon headed McClean's cross just over the bar.
At the other end, another Wilson long-range attempt looped up off a Black Cats shirt, but the visitors were looking to make their man advantage count and, 15 minutes into the second half, they took the lead.
Collecting the ball from Sessegnon, McClean powered forward and, having evaded Andy Wilkinson and Ryan Shawcross, slotted it past Thomas Sorensen. Delap tried to make a swift response but lashed a shot off target and, after Mignolet survived spilling a long throw from the midfielder, Walters put an effort high and wide.
Stoke continued to press, with Crouch's header being caught by Mignolet. The goalkeeper then got down to save an angled effort from Fuller. Wilson's deflected shot earned a corner towards the end, but it went unconverted as Sunderland emerged triumphant.
Sunderland moved up to eighth in the Premier League after ending Norwich's six-match unbeaten run in some style.
Fraizer Campbell, starting in the top flight for the first time since August 2010, opened the scoring with a superb right-footed volley from 25 yards.
Stephane Sessegnon started and finished a delightfully-worked second, heading in Campbell's perfect right-wing cross.
The Black Cats added a third soon after the break when Phil Bardsley's cross fizzed in off Daniel Ayala's knee.
How times have changed at the Stadium of Light since Martin O'Neill took charge in December.
Sunderland recorded only one win in their first seven home matches in the league this term but O'Neill has presided over four in the last five.
There had been little to choose between these teams in recent meetings, with 11 of the last 14 matches settled by the odd goal and the other three drawn.
But Paul Lambert's first managerial challenge against his former boss at Celtic was a one-sided affair, the Canaries unable to find any passing rhythm and Sunderland far sharper throughout.
Campbell, who returned after an 18-month injury lay-off to score the equaliser against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last weekend, forced Norwich keeper John Ruddy to push away his early header following a fine cross from the industrial James McClean.
Norwich had barely got out of first gear, and indeed would barely do so for the rest of the evening, but they might have taken the lead when Steve Morison flicked on a free-kick and Grant Holt hit a fierce volley on the turn. Fortunately for the home side, it was too close to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to cause him serious difficulties.
But Campbell put Sunderland ahead in magnificent fashion, controlling a high ball neatly and unleashing a fabulous shot that soared over Ruddy into the corner of the net. It was the former Manchester United striker's first Premier League goal since April 2010.
Sunderland, slick, creative and full of confidence going forward, and well-organised defensively, fashioned a magnificent second.
Sessagnon nutmegged Bradley Johnson in the centre circle, sprayed the ball wide to Campbell on the right-flank, then darted into the six-yard box to head home the inviting first-time cross.
The intrepid 800-strong band of Norwich supporters who had made the 510-mile round trip needed something inspirational from their side in the second period, but another rapid Sunderland break ended their chances of anything to celebrate.
An intricate one-touch passing move on the right freed Bardsley and his cross from the byeline flicked off Ayala's knee into the net off the underside of the bar.
Norwich made a double substitution and one of the new arrivals, Anthony Pilkington, delivered a perfect left-wing cross for Morison but his header was fractionally wide and there were to be no further chances for the visitors.
Eight minutes from time Sunderland were able to give a debut to new loan signing Wayne Bridge, whose last Premier League appearance was against them for West Ham in the final match of last season.
Bridge received a warm ovation from the home fans, buoyed by an impressive performance from their team, who have lost only two matches in O'Neill's 11 in charge.
