Welcome to our coverage of the North London derby. Arsenal  need a win, Tottenham can consolidate third  place  and really put their neighbours to the sword…

The teams:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Park, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Chamakh, Miquel.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto,Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Saha. Subs: Cudicini, Lennon, Van der Vaart, Defoe, Dawson, Rose, Sandro.

And we’re off…

Tottenham having the better of it early on, really putting Arsenal under pressure and attempting to feed Louis Saha.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

A typical disaster from Arsenal! Near the halfway line, Adebayor nonchalantly turns on the ball then plays a through ball. He completely split the uneven Arsenal centre-halves, allowing Louis Saha to steal in. He struck, the ball took a deflection and went in. It was an ultimately untidy goal but a valuable one.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have taken the lead against Norwich: Paul Scholes opens the scoring.

Arsenal have responded well and might have had a penalty for a challenge in the box on Kieran Gibbs from Kyle Walker. Van Persie is looking threatening.

Szczesny struggles in the sun as Tottenham swing a free-kick in. That’s a route that might provide joy for Spurs.

And Van Persie puts it wide! A ball was played across the area, the striker took one shot before steadying himself for the rebound. He had the whole goal to shoot at but sent it well clear of goal. That wasn’t far off a sitter.

Van Persie drives at goal from 20 yards after a quick throw, it takes a deflection and goes just wide. Immediately afterwards, Rosicky’s header is just turned over by Brad Friedel. Optimism for Arsenal.

This from Opta:

Theo Walcott’s pass completion after a quarter of the game: 38%.

Penalty! Gareth Bale goes down as he tries to round Szczesny, seeming to leave his leg out to be caught by the goalkeeper’s hand… that was “streetwise” from Bale.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

It just gets worse for Arsenal. Adebayor – of all people – powers in the penalty, becoming only the second player to score for both teams in the North London derby.

It’s got quite ugly at the Emirates as Joe Jordan and Harry Redknapp have “words” with an Arsenal fan behind the. He’s subsequently ejected from the stadium.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Van Persie hits the post, with the ball quickly coming back into the box for Sagna to head home. Arsenal right back in this game!

GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

What a goal! And what a turnaround!Van Persie gains control on the edge of the box, turns on his left and then curls a magnificent strike into the corner of the net. Brilliant goal. And Wenger suddenly looking a lot perkier!

Arsenal in the absolute ascendancy now as Tottenham are making errors and hashing clearances. Incredible stuff.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Phew. What a half of football. Breathless.

The second half is under way. Will it be as action-packed as the first?

And, already, Benayoun goes close, Friedel just touching his shot away.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur

What an incredible game. A reversal of what happened in this exact fixture last season. Tomas Rosicky gets his first goal in two years by prodding him. For all the criticism, Arsenal have illustrated fantastic spirit.

What a shapeless game. There are still so many gaps. But, of course, it’s hugely entertaining as Walcott drives through one of those gaps and shoots just wide.

Less chances in the last few minutes but Arsenal still on top, pressing Tottenham into their own half. They have a corner now after a deflected free-kick.

GOAL! Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur

And the turnaround is complete… for the moment. Van Persie delays his pass before releasing Theo Walcott. The winger appears to take too much out of it before elegantly clipping the ball over Friedel. Brilliant.

GOAL! Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur

And Arsenal make it five! A brilliant, lofted pass from Song but Tottenham’s defence – again – was all at sea. Walcott collects, turns and confidently rolls the ball into the corner. Arsenal relentless at the moment.

Szczesny hangs onto Sandro’s effort. Tottenham looking limp at the moment though.

And a beautiful interchange between Walcott and Rosicky ends with the Czech just rolling the ball past the post. Incredibly, there are more goals in this. And, if Tottenham were to get one, you wouldn’t rule out a late rally. Such an open match.

And there’s a big goal at Old Trafford as Grant Holt has equalised with six minutes left. No more than Norwich deserved after a poor United performance!

Arsenal fans now oléing every pass as they unravel Spurs here. Walcott going off to a standing ovation, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on.

And another goal at Old Trafford as Ryan Giggs scores what is surely a late winner on his 900th appearance!

RED CARD! Scott Parker gets a second booking, meaning he will miss next week’s game against Manchester United.

You have to say, that is vintage United and Giggs. A potentially big weekend in the title race… again.

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur

The last half-hour of that was in complete contrast to the 60 minutes as Arsenal eased to victory in what had been a helter-skelter game. Sensational spirit from Arsenal.