ARSENE WENGER might as well have called it the Arsenal resurrection.
The Gunners chief claimed thumping Tottenham proved there is still life in his beleaguered side.
How right he was. For, after 33 minutes, you could be forgiven for thinking Arsenal were dead — and buried.
Two goals down to Tottenham, their own fans booing their every mistake, and seemingly no way back.
Only former Gunner Emmanuel Ade-boo-yor was targeted by the home fans more than their own players, with Theo Walcott being singled out by angry supporters.
On the back of a Euro-trashing at Milan and a crushing FA Cup defeat at Sunderland, it seemed the perfect storm was brewing at the Emirates.
But, come half-time, Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie had cancelled out Spurs' lead courtesy of goals from Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor.
And, come the final whistle, another from Tomas Rosicky and a Theo Walcott double had given Arsenal fans their most thrilling afternoon in this or any other recent season.
Wenger said: "The overall feeling is that Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game.
"The performance, on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team and style we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start.
"In the first five minutes, Tottenham started well. After that it was all us for the next 85 minutes.
"We were always on top of the game. We were 2-0 down and just refused to lose and kept going no matter what.
"Once we were back to 2-2 you could see, if we maintained the pace, we would win."
Saha put Spurs ahead inside four minutes and shortly after the half-hour birthday-boy Adebayor struck against his old club from the spot.
But Sagna's thumping header changed the mood and, when Van Persie curled his leveller after 42 minutes, the explosion of joy was unprecedented.
Relief, mixed with anger, frustration and naturally raw animosity against the old enemy. Wenger admitted he had considered taking Walcott out of the firing line as the fans had turned on him.
He added: "The crowd were starting to get on his back and you wonder if you're doing him a favour if you take him off.
"I felt that he had the qualities we needed — a player that can be direct and go behind the defenders. Nobody else is like that for us.
"You know he can sometimes miss a first touch but, considering the balance of our team, it was important to keep him in the side."
Skipper Van Persie revealed Wenger geed up his troops and the players kept egging each other on at half-time.
He said: "Arsene Wenger gave a good speech, not only him, everyone was talking to each other, everyone was getting into it. Everyone was sharp and ready to fight for each other.
"It was a show of character. We did it earlier in the season, against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, and everyone knows we have it in ourselves. To do it against Spurs is a dream."
Wenger was cheekily asked if, after putting five past Spurs inside 28 minutes, Arsenal can hope to overturn the 4-0 deficit against Milan a week on Tuesday.
He said: "Ha! The only answer I can give is that we will try.
"Unfortunately, for us, it's an international week. Some of our players play Wednesday and then on Saturday we're at Liverpool, then Tuesday against Milan. It is an impossible schedule."
Spurs chief Harry Redknapp, who saw Scott Parker sent off late on, said: "Last year we were 2-0 down at half-time and won 3-2. I was saying, 'Let's get to half-time'. I could see them scoring. We seemed to buckle after they scored.
"We don't do that often. When you're 2-0 up, you expect to win the game.
"We're in a great position. We're still seven points clear of Arsenal and Chelsea. If we can finish third, that's a great season."
The Gunners chief claimed thumping Tottenham proved there is still life in his beleaguered side.
How right he was. For, after 33 minutes, you could be forgiven for thinking Arsenal were dead — and buried.
Two goals down to Tottenham, their own fans booing their every mistake, and seemingly no way back.
Only former Gunner Emmanuel Ade-boo-yor was targeted by the home fans more than their own players, with Theo Walcott being singled out by angry supporters.
On the back of a Euro-trashing at Milan and a crushing FA Cup defeat at Sunderland, it seemed the perfect storm was brewing at the Emirates.
But, come half-time, Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie had cancelled out Spurs' lead courtesy of goals from Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor.
And, come the final whistle, another from Tomas Rosicky and a Theo Walcott double had given Arsenal fans their most thrilling afternoon in this or any other recent season.
Wenger said: "The overall feeling is that Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game.
"The performance, on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team and style we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start.
"In the first five minutes, Tottenham started well. After that it was all us for the next 85 minutes.
"We were always on top of the game. We were 2-0 down and just refused to lose and kept going no matter what.
"Once we were back to 2-2 you could see, if we maintained the pace, we would win."
Saha put Spurs ahead inside four minutes and shortly after the half-hour birthday-boy Adebayor struck against his old club from the spot.
But Sagna's thumping header changed the mood and, when Van Persie curled his leveller after 42 minutes, the explosion of joy was unprecedented.
Relief, mixed with anger, frustration and naturally raw animosity against the old enemy. Wenger admitted he had considered taking Walcott out of the firing line as the fans had turned on him.
He added: "The crowd were starting to get on his back and you wonder if you're doing him a favour if you take him off.
"I felt that he had the qualities we needed — a player that can be direct and go behind the defenders. Nobody else is like that for us.
"You know he can sometimes miss a first touch but, considering the balance of our team, it was important to keep him in the side."
Skipper Van Persie revealed Wenger geed up his troops and the players kept egging each other on at half-time.
He said: "Arsene Wenger gave a good speech, not only him, everyone was talking to each other, everyone was getting into it. Everyone was sharp and ready to fight for each other.
"It was a show of character. We did it earlier in the season, against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, and everyone knows we have it in ourselves. To do it against Spurs is a dream."
Wenger was cheekily asked if, after putting five past Spurs inside 28 minutes, Arsenal can hope to overturn the 4-0 deficit against Milan a week on Tuesday.
He said: "Ha! The only answer I can give is that we will try.
"Unfortunately, for us, it's an international week. Some of our players play Wednesday and then on Saturday we're at Liverpool, then Tuesday against Milan. It is an impossible schedule."
Spurs chief Harry Redknapp, who saw Scott Parker sent off late on, said: "Last year we were 2-0 down at half-time and won 3-2. I was saying, 'Let's get to half-time'. I could see them scoring. We seemed to buckle after they scored.
"We don't do that often. When you're 2-0 up, you expect to win the game.
"We're in a great position. We're still seven points clear of Arsenal and Chelsea. If we can finish third, that's a great season."
