Arsenal 5 Tottenham Hotspur 2: Delighted Wenger refuses to rule out finishing above Spurs

The Gunners completed an incredible comeback as they recovered from a two-goal deficit to win 5-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

Spurs had looked on course for victory after goals from Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor, although they were pegged back before half-time by Bacary Sagna’s header and a Robin van Persie wonder-strike.

Arsenal continued in the same vein after the break and took the lead through Tomas Rosicky six minutes into the second half, before a Theo Walcott brace wrapped up the resounding victory.

“Today showed Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game,” Wenger said.

“We had an emphatic performance today where on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team and style of the way we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start.

“I felt in the first five minutes, Spurs started well. It was all us for the next 85 minutes. We were 2-0 down and just refused to lose the game and kept going no matter what happened.

“Once we were back to 2-2, you saw that if we maintained the pace we would win the game.

“There was a good balance between offence and defence, between creativity and going into the space behind their defenders and we showed good maturity. We had a great spirit.”

Yesterday’s three points propels Arsenal into the Champions League places ahead of Chelsea on goals scored.

The Gunners now also lie just seven points shy of third-placed Tottenham and Wenger believes his side could yet end the season above them.

“It is still possible, if we keep our run going,” the Frenchman said. “Why not?

“But before the game it was ‘impossible’. I always thought it was possible, but it would be down to consistency. Everybody in the Premier League can lose points.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp seemed taken aback in the post-match press conference, admitting it was “one of those days”.

“I didn’t feel comfortable to be honest at 2-0 up,” he said. “They were creating chances at 2-0.

“To be fair, when they got back to 2-2, they had an opportunity to go 3-2 before half-time so I wasn’t exactly sitting there feeling comfortable. We were hitting them on the counter-attack, but we were camping deep in our half and they were making opportunities.

“At 2-0 I didn’t feel comfortable and at 2-2 I felt even less comfortable and the momentum was with them at half-time. They came off to a standing ovation and you knew it was going to be a very tough second half.

“Van Persie with the second goal was amazing. He had a foot to aim in and stuck it in the top corner.

“They had a bit of quality about them today. They were busy in the middle of the park. It was one of those days for us.”

Tottenham’s afternoon was made worse three minutes from time when influential midfielder Scott Parker was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The England international will now miss next weekend’s clash with Manchester United through suspension and Redknapp hinted Ledley King could also miss out due to a hamstring strain.