Live blog of the Arsenal - Tottenham match

9:41 - It's all over here and Spurs gain three points on the road at the Emirates.  A tale of two haves today with Arsenal completely falling apart in the second half.  Good attacking soccer today and a very entertaining game.  Hope you enjoyed.

9:36 - Kinda surprised at the decision in favor of Bale in the corner.  Looked like Bale was making the most of it and was just simply beat on that play.  Really one of the only decisions I've disagree with him on.

9:35 - Five minutes of extra time here and I'm not quite sure why.  Gallas was injured and he had a couple cards, but five minutes worth?  I was thinking between 3 and 4 at the most.

9:30 - And on the ensuing kick Tottenham have taken the lead!  3-2 Tottenham.  The cross in is flicked on and into the corner.  Nothing Fabianski could do as Kaboul vaults his team into the driver seat.  Unthinkable at halftime but Spurs have pulled ahead.

Van Persie nearly has an opportunity but misplays the ball.

9:29 - 84th minute - And here is a yellow card for Koscielny for a poor tackle on Bale.  Quite right to book him here.

9:25 - Very surprised that Denilson was spared a caution there.  Somewhat late, but light, challenge on an attacking Spurs player.  Denilson has been called for at least two other fouls which is why I'm surprised no card was shown to Denilson.

9:17 - I forgot to mention that Robin Van Persie has made his appearance, on for Chamakh.  And here come Crouch (Crouchy's having his nachos) on for Pavlyuchenko.  Walcott looking to come on for Arsenal in the next few minutes.

9:11 - And our first big call this game.  Phil Dowd makes a call for Tottenham about 8 yards outside the box, a foul on Sagna.  On the ensuing free kick VDV strikes it just over the wall.  Before the ball can get over Fabregas decides to stretch his arm over his two teammates in the wall, why is beyond me.  He handles the ball two yards inside the box for an obvious penalty kick.  VDV takes that and buries it.  Now afterward Dowd  approaches VDV and shows him a yellow, for what I don't know.  The announcers had said quite rightly that VDV was walking a tight rope and maybe he had used up his third strike.

Things getting very heated now and Dowd having to make a lot of calls, on both teams.  Wenger, of course, not to happy about this, but I think Dowd has had a very good game up to this point.  20 minutes to go.  Good offside call by the AR to take away a goal for Arsenal.

9:00 - Good advantage play by Dowd to let Modric take that shot from about 25 yards out.  Modric nearly put it on frame too.

8:55 - 50th minute - a good goal by none other than Gareth Bale.  Poor defending by Arsenal but they completely butcher it.  And Tottenham are back in it because of that mistake.  Expect the intensity to ratchet up here - how will Arsenal respond?  Van der Vaart making a meal out of a relatively small challenge here.


Halftime - 18 fouls so far in this one, but only one card.  Lots of fouls but I think it's been a pretty free flowing game - both teams want to play quickly and with Arsenal stealing an early goal Tottenham have no choice but to play attacking football trying to get back into the game.  Good play by both teams so far in this one and good decisions by the referee crew.

8:29 - I don't much like Efan Ekoku but he's gotten it right here - that was the final warning for Van der Vart.  Twice he's left his feet and not had any real idea of playing the ball.  Neither were particularly worth of a caution but now that they're adding up he's in danger of picking up a yellow.  I think a good warning from Dowd, letting the player know where he stands.  

8:24 - About 38 minutes in now, 2-0 Arsenal.  Does anyone else think the Tiger Stripe Nike goalkeeper jerseys look awful?  It seriously looks like a print you should see on a handbag or underwear, but a soccer kit?  Not to mention Fabianski is wearing the gayest of gay with his pink outfit.

8:13 - And another goal nearly 20 minutes later.  Wow, end to end stuff here and since we're focusing on the referee I have to say that it's really due to Phil Dowd that Arsenal have their second.  Dowd had the opportunity to call a foul just outside the center circle for Tottenham, but seeing that Tottenham could keep moving up field with the ball he played advantage.  An excellent call, but when Tottenham lost the ball Arsenal were able to counterattack and did so very well.  Lots of space and Chamakh made the most of it.  Good strike by Modric there but Fabianski equal to the task.  We are now a half hour in.

8:04 - Good call by Phil Dowd on VDV.  You could see on the replay that VDV made no attempt to play the ball, but looked at the man in the air the entire run up to his jump.  Easy call for the referee.  Dowd is making his presence felt - a card already and a stern talking to for VDV's challenge.  I think that is a good approach to this game especially.  He knows, and has seen, that this game will be very intense and he is making sure it doesn't get out of hand.  Good refereeing so far, now about 20 minutes in.

7:58 - And our first card here as Phil Dowd chooses to book Sagna.  Yikes, what a challenge, very hard, but lucky for him he kept his foot down and was relatively close to playing the ball.  Very good call and caution from Dowd.  He also uses the opportunity to possibly calm the game down early whereas some refs in the EPL may have just talked with Sagna and allowed that kind of challenge to happen the rest of the game.  Very physical game so far and I don't see that letting up too much.

7:55 - And a goal already in the 9th minute!  Samir Nasri makes a great run inside the left back.  Great no call by the AR.  Gomes came out very late, kind of confused by that, Nasri manages to get by Gomes and puts it in from an impossible angle.  This match will be end to end for the full 90 and I wouldn't be surprised to see some tasty tackles throughout the game.

7:53 - 8th minute and already 5 fouls from the two teams.  Can you tell this is a hotly contested derby?  Ref is in for a good one today.

7:47 - You know you're in for a doozy when a captain refuses to shake the other captain's hand.

7:45 - And here we go.  Should be an entertaining match as both teams are attacking teams.  Hopefully we'll get lots of goals here. Henry is in the house. Philip Dowd is the man with the whistle.

It's time for the North London Derby and I'll be providing a live blog of this match, mainly from the refereeing standpoint but also commenting on the play of the two teams.  Please watch along with me and provide comments throughout.