Spurs beat Arsenal to shatter rival´s Premier League title hopes

Danny Rose marked his Premier League debut with a stunning volley that set Tottenham on course for a 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday that ended their north London rivals’ title hopes.

Rose, 19, fired Spurs ahead after nine minutes and Gareth Bale added a second immediately after the break before Nicklas Bendtner got one back five minutes from time.

The Gunners now lie six points adrift of leaders Chelsea and effectively out of the title race.

Tottenham, though, maintained their chances of claiming a place in next season?s Champions League and sit one point behind Manchester City who lie fourth.

It was also Spurs’ first league win over their bitter rivals since November 1999 and only their second triumph over the old enemy in 28 league matches.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had insisted that the prospect of a derby meeting with the Gunners was the ideal fixture to help his side move on from the shock of losing to relegated Portsmouth in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.

It quickly became clear, however, that there would be no time to dwell on the painful trip to Wembley with Sol Campbell’s presence in the Arsenal line-up in particular ensuring an incendiary atmosphere.

It is nine years since the defender left White Hart Lane, but the manner of his departure – the former England centre-back allowed his contract to run down before switching to Arsenal on a free transfer – has clearly not been forgotten.

This was Campbell’s first return to his former club since he rejoined Arsenal in January following his brief spell in League Two with Notts County and the way in which his first touch was jeered confirmed that nothing has changed.

The defender would have been an even more unwelcome visitor had Benoit Assou-Ekotto not reacted smartly to hack the ball off the goal-line after Campbell’s knee deflected his side?s first corner beyond home keeper Heurelho Gomes.

Stirred, they responded impressively with Rose working his way down the right hand flank in the eighth minute before pulling a low cross back towards Roman Pavlyuchenko, whose right foot shot appeared destined to beat Manuel Almunia before Gunners centre back Thomas Vermaelen stuck out a timely leg and deflected the ball to safety.

Relief proved to be only temporary though, and the resulting corner produced Tottenham’s spectacular opening goal.

The danger appeared to have passed when Almunia punched clear. The Arsenal keeper appeared to have got good distance on the clearance but the ball dropped perfectly for Rose who connected with a perfect left foot volley to beat Almunia from 25 yards.

Campbell was growing in stature, especially when Vermaelen hobbled off injured after just 19 minutes and he prevented a second Spurs goal when he headed Luka Modric’s deflected shot to safety.

The same could not be said for Campbell’s defensive colleagues, however, when the home side did finally double their lead seconds after the restart.

The move started with Jermain Defoe moving down the left before picking out Bale who was unmarked in the Arsenal area and played onside by Bacary Sagna.

Bale calmly slotted the ball past Almunia and Arsenal’s title hopes appeared to be all but gone.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger quickly introduced Theo Walcott and then Robin van Persie in a bid to add to his side?s firepower.

It was Van Persie’s first appearance since sustaining a serious knee injury whilst on international duty with Holland five months ago and he would have marked his return with a goal had Gomes not produced two outstanding saves to deny him.

Gomes made another brilliant stop to deny Campbell’s header but Spurs had to hang on after Bendtner gave Arsenal hope with a close-range finish in the 85th minute.