Arsenal gave their Premier League title hopes a big boost on Sunday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The only goal of the game came inside the opening two minutes as Tomas Rosicky fired an unstoppable drive past Hugo Lloris.
The victory has seen the Gunners move to within four points of leaders Chelsea in the table.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded at White Hart Lane.
3pmHello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane. We should have some team news through in the next few minutes...
3.03pmUPDATE: There's currently 20 minutes left to play in today's other Premier League match, with Liverpool beating Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford thanks to two penalties from Steven Gerrard. We'll bring you that full-time result as soon as it's through.
3.07pmARSENAL: Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Cazorla; Giroud
3.08pmARSENAL SUBS: Fabianski, Monreal, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Flamini, Gnabry, Sanogo
3.11pmArsenal manager Arsene Wenger makes three changes following his side's Champions League exit to Bayern Munich in midweek as Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs and Tomas Rosicky all return. Lukas Fabianski and Thomas Vermaelen drop to the bench, while Mesut Ozil misses out with a hamstring injury.
3.14pmSPURS: Lloris; Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Sandro; Townsend, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Chadli; Adebayor
3.15pmSPURS SUBS: Friedel, Walker, Lennon, Paulinho, Sigurdsson, Kane, Soldado
3.18pmTim Sherwood makes four changes to his Spurs side following their first-leg defeat to Benfica in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday. Danny Rose replaces Kyle Walker in defence, while Andros Townsend, Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli are also given the nod by Sherwood. Roberto Soldado starts on the bench.
3.20pm
Good luck to the boys today in the North London derby. Massive game!! Feeling positive we can get the 3 points #AFC #NorthLondonDerby
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) March 16, 20143.23pmUPDATE: The full-time whistle has just gone at Old Trafford where Liverpool have brushed aside Manchester United 3-0. Steven Gerrard scored two penalties for the visitors before Luis Suarez sealed the win late on. Nemanja Vidic was sent off for United. Obviously.
3.26pmThat victory takes Liverpool up to second place in the Premier League table, four points behind Chelsea. If Arsenal win this afternoon the Gunners will be level on points with the Merseysiders. However, they will have to settle for third place in the standings due to their inferior goal difference. What a title race we have this season.
3.29pmMeanwhile, that defeat for United has given Spurs a bit of breathing space in fifth place. Tim Sherwood's side can move to within three points of a Champions League place with a win this afternoon.
3.32pmRECENT FORM IN ALL COMPETITIONS:
SPURS: LLWWLL
ARSENAL: WLWLWD
3.34pm
10 - Emmanuel Adebayor has scored more goals than any other player in north London derby history (8 for Arsenal and 2 for Spurs). Specialist
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 20143.37pmWhen it comes recent form in the Premier League, Spurs have performed slightly better than Arsenal in the past few weeks. They've taken 10 points from their last six games compared to eight points for Arsenal.
3.41pmHEAD TO HEAD: It's Arsenal who have the better head-to-head record between these teams, winning 70 matches compared to Spurs' 52. There have also been 44 draws. As for games played at White Hart Lane, Tottenham lead that battle 32-25. The last time that Arsenal won at the Lane in the league was in September 2007.
3.44pmThe local rivals have already played each other twice this season, with Arsenal coming out on top both times. Olivier Giroud's goal separated the sides at the Emirates Stadium in the league back in September before a 2-0 victory for the Gunners came at the same venue in the FA Cup third round four months later.
3.47pmPREDICTION TIME: How do you see this one going today? We here at Sports Mole can see a few goals hitting the back of the net with Arsenal coming away with a 2-1 win. Not long to go until we find out if we're right.
3.50pmTen minutes until kickoff and there's a great buzz around White Hart Lane. These matches usually provide onlookers with plenty of entertainment and hopefully today will be no different.
3.53pmTottenham boss Tim Sherwood recently speaking with Spurs TV: "It is a fantastic occasion - always was to play in these games.
"It is my first time as a manager at the Lane to be standing opposite Arsene Wenger and hopefully I will get one over on them. I don't think there is much blood and thunder these days - I want it to be more of that.
"I think that gives us the edge. We are possibly more functional than they are, but if they get into their stride we know they can be very dangerous, so we need to knock them off their stride."
3.55pmArsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla speaking with the club's official website: "[Spurs] are playing quite well at the moment and they will give everything against us.
"They've got lots of good players and once we get out there we know it will be a tough game. But if we play as we normally do, we can beat anybody.
"It's one of the great games because of the great rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham. But apart from that it's a very important game for us because we're both vying for the Champions League places.
"There's always a great atmosphere and it's clear that it's a special game for both clubs. For us players, it's a case of making the fans happy. We need the result because we're going for the title. They need it of course because of their Champions League aspirations."
3.57pmHere come the players out onto the pitch at White Hart Lane. The atmosphere is cracking inside the stadium on what is a wonderfully sunny day for football.
1 minKICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Spurs to kick us off for this North-London derby. Here we go!
1 minGOAL! SPURS 0-1 ARSENAL (ROSICKY)
1 minOh my word, what a start for Arsenal as Tomas Rosicky smashes in an unstoppable effort! The Czech exchanged passes with Oxlade-Chamberlain just inside the Spurs penalty are before lashing the ball across Lloris and into the far corner. That was a sensational strike.
4 minAs you might imagine, that goal has rattled Spurs. Meanwhile the Arsenal fans are singing their hearts out. It's the visitors who are in control at the moment, taking advantage of the early momentum.
6 min
01:12 - Tomas Rosicky's goal is the fastest ever scored by Arsenal against Tottenham in the Premier League. Rapid.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 20148 minCredit to Spurs, they're starting to play themselves into this match a bit more. Their midfield is competing well right now, winning the loose ball most of the time. Adebayor is also beginning to cause his former employers one or two problems in the final third. He's looking lively.
11 minThe two teams are bombing around at a really high tempo at the moment. Players aren't being allowed too much time on the ball. However, it's still the hosts who are looking more dominant as they try to hit back quickly and find an equaliser. Still no real chances for them though.
14 minArsenal are currently being limited to counter-attacking football, but that doesn't mean they're not posing a threat. One move sees Podolski break clear with relative ease, only for the offside flag to go up. There's still very little in the way of penetration at the other end for Spurs.
15 minMISS! Oh, that's a shocking miss from Oxlade-Chamberlain. The winger bursts clear past the Spurs defence to go one on one with Lloris, but he can only scuff his effort wide of goal when you would have expected him to score. Could that prove costly?
18 minYou can only see Arsenal creating a few more chances like that one from Oxlade-Chamberlain if Spurs continue to play with such a high defensive line. The hosts are committing plenty of men forward, which is a risky tactic against such a quick Arsenal side.
21 minSpurs are enjoying a decent spell at the minute. They look to threaten Arsenal a bit more as Townsend's dangerous cross narrowly misses Adebayor in the middle before Chadli's speculative effort from long range is blocked.
22 minYELLOW CARD! Arsenal's Bacary Sagna goes into the book for a reckless challenge on Danny Rose. The Frenchman allowed the ball to run ahead of him before chopping down his opposite number. The Spurs fans wanted to see a red card there, but referee Mike Dean did the right thing by showing the yellow.
25 minSomething of a half-chance for Spurs there as Adebayor tries to flick the ball acrobatically into the back of the net following a hoof upfield from Kaboul. However, the striker was flagged for offside so it wouldn't have counted. It's a pretty even contest right now, with both teams attacking and leaving plenty of gaps in defence.
28 minCHANCE! Arsenal launch a quick counter-attack through Podolski, whose pass for Rosicky on the edge of the box ends up running through to Oxlade-Chamberlain. The winger smashes a first-time shot towards goal, but it's deflected behind for a corner which the visitors fail to make anything of. At the other end Adebayor shoots narrowly wide from Naughton's cross.
30 minSpurs win a free kick in a dangerous position just outside of the penalty box, but Eriksen whips his effort over the crossbar. There's still a great open feel to this match. Lots of attacking football on display.
32 minYELLOW CARD! Spurs midfielder Nacer Chadli now goes into the book for a late challenge on Rosicky. Not a very clever challenge from the Belgian, that.
35 minCHANCE! Close to a second goal for Arsenal as Podolski muscles Naughton off the ball before shooting wide on the angle. That was a difficult opportunity for the German, but he's more than capable of finding the net from there.
38 minDespite only seeing one goal so far this has been an incredibly open match. Both sides continue to bomb forward whenever possible, though it's Spurs who look more likely to score right now. It would be hard to begrudge the home team an equaliser considering their reaction to going behind so early.
40 minAnother decent opening for Spurs there as Chadli is afforded some space on the edge of the penalty area. The Belgian takes aim, but he can only drag his effort wide of the target.
43 minJust a couple of minutes of normal time left to play in this first half and it's Spurs who remain on top. One area of concern for Tim Sherwood might be the lack of support for Adebayor up front. The striker has got into a lot of good positions so far today, only to find no one up there with him.
45 minJust the one minutes of added time at the end of the half. Meanwhile, Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Townsend.
45+1 minHALF TIME: SPURS 0-1 ARSENAL
4.48pmThe half-time whistle goes and it's Arsenal who lead 1-0 thanks to Tomas Rosicky's stunner inside the first two minutes. It's been a bright and entertaining opening 45 minutes of football and Spurs have shown enough to suggest that this match is far from over.
4.51pmUPDATE: Today's early kickoff in the Premier League saw Liverpool hammer Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Steven Gerrard scored two penalties for the visitors before Luis Suarez capped with win late on. You can read our match report for that one right here.
4.54pmAnyway, back to this match. Credit must go to Spurs for the way that they reacted to going behind so early. However, Tim Sherwood should be concerned with his team's lack of creativity in attack. They've been good going forward, but they need to do more if they want to get back into this.
4.57pmAs for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger is likely to be telling his players to tighten up at the back and compete a bit more in midfield. They've been second best in those departments today, yet they still find themselves 1-0 up.
5pm
PICTURE: Here's Tomas Rosicky firing @Arsenal into the lead at White Hart Lane #THFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/R1a05A8Ud4
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 16, 201446 minSECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out and it will be Arsenal to kick us off for the second half. No changes for either side at the break.
47 minCHANCES! Spurs almost start the second half by getting level as Adebayor challenges Szczesny for an aerial ball. The Arsenal goalkeeper fails to catch it but his defence is there to clear the danger. The hosts then have another wonderful opportunity as Chadli rounds Szczesny, only to see his effort blocked off the line by Koscielny and Mertesacker. It should really be 1-1.
50 minSpurs really have come flying out of the traps here. Tim Sherwood must have given them a right rollicking during the interval. They're attacking with plenty of gusto, pinning Arsenal back and forcing the issue with a good level of intensity.
51 minCHANCE! Close again for the home team! Townsend makes a darting run down the right wing before sliding the ball across the face of goal, but it evades everyone and goes out of play on the other side.
54 minThis is such a good spell for Spurs, but you feel as if they have to convert one of these opportunities sooner rather than later. Arsenal are just about hanging in there at the moment.
57 minWhat a challenge that is from Kaboul. Podolski was looking to run into the Spurs area, only to be confronted by the centre-back. The Gunners manager to get a corner out of it, though they fail to make the chance count. That was a rare chance for Arsenal in this half as Spurs continue to dominate.
60 minWe've had an hour played at White Hart Lane where it remains 1-0 to Arsenal. If things stay the same, Arsenal will move to within four points of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. However, there's plenty of football to be played in this derby.
63 minThe player who is impressing the most right now is Townsend for Spurs. The winger looks so dangerous when in possession, running at the Arsenal defence and forcing them further and further back.
64 minCHANCE! So close to an equaliser for Spurs as Adebayor rises above Koscielny at the far post following Bentaleb's deep cross. However, the striker heads off target by a matter of inches. How have the hosts not found the net this afternoon?
66 min
PHOTO Santi Cazorla & Emmanuel Adebayor tussle for the ball in the North London derby. Arsenal lead 1-0 pic.twitter.com/tJgr8hFhvk
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 16, 201468 minSUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both sides here. First of all, Spurs bring on Paulinho and Gylfi Sigurdsson in place of Sandro and Nacer Chadli. For Arsenal it's Tomas Rosicky who comes off for Mathieu Flamini.
71 minWhile Spurs are bombarding the Arsenal goal, credit must go to the visitors for their defensive display this afternoon. Koscielny and Mertesacker in particular have been superb, blocking and tackling as if their lives depended on it. Just under 20 minutes of normal time remaining.
74 minArsenal are doing their best to take the sting out of this match, but Spurs aren't having any of it. The hosts are throwing everyone forward in their attempt to find an equaliser. Mind you, that could play into Arsenal's hands as the game becomes more open.
75 minYELLOW CARD! Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen goes into the book now for a challenge on Santi Cazorla.
77 minSUBSTITUTION: Another change for Arsenal here as Lukas Podolski makes way for Nacho Monreal.
78 minSAVE! What a stop from Lloris to keep Spurs in this match! A free kick around 40 yards from goal was pumped into the Tottenham box before the ball fell to Mertesacker. The German was able to get a snapshot away, but Lloris was there to get down low and keep it out.
80 minYELLOW CARD! He hasn't been on the pitch for very long but Mathieu Flamini goes into the book for chopping down Christian Eriksen from behind.
82 minSUBSTITUTION: A final roll of the dice for Spurs as Roberto Soldado enters the action in place of Christian Eriksen. The home fans aren't too happy with that swap. It sounds like they would have rather seen Eriksen stay on.
85 minSUBSTITUTION: Arsenal's last swap sees Thomas Vermaelen come on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
88 minSpurs are throwing absolutely everything at Arsenal at the moment as they try desperately to salvage something from this match. Time is running out for them though. Their frustration manifests itself in Tim Sherwood losing his temper when Bacary Sagna takes his time over a throw.
89 minAdebayor carves himself an opening on the edge of the box as he attempts to curl the ball into the far corner, but Szczesny is alert to the danger and makes the save.
90 minThe fourth official indicates that there will be FOUR MINUTES of added time...
90+2 minYELLOW CARD! Spurs defender Danny Rose goes into the book for a foul on Giroud. It looks like Arsenal might just hold on for what would be a huge three points for their Premier League title aspirations.
90+4 minFULL TIME: SPURS 0-1 ARSENAL
5.52pmMike Dean blows the full-time whistle and it's Arsenal who have the bragging rights for the next few months thanks to a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The only goal of the game came inside the first two minutes courtesy of Tomas Rosicky's superb strike. Arsenal are now four points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League table.
5.54pmThat's all from our live text coverage of this afternoon's match but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
