Winger Emmanuel Eboue saw red after picking up two needless yellow cards in the first half, while the Gunners also had to cope with the loss of striker Emmanuel Adebayor who pulled up with what looked like a serious hamstring problem.

Robbie Keane had led the Spurs attack on his return from Liverpool, and went close with a header.

Alex Song fired wide from a corner to miss the best chance for Arsenal, who had new signing Andrei Arshavin on the bench.

Spurs have enjoyed bragging rights over their rivals since the Carling Cup semi-final victory here last season was followed up with a dramatic 4-4 draw at Emirates Stadium in late October.

Arsenal needed all three points to close the gap on the top four, and went into the encounter on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

It was the home side who started brightly, forcing a couple of early corners.

Keane went down under the challenge of William Gallas on the right side of the penalty area, but referee Mike Dean was having none of it and waved play on.

Robin van Persie and Eboue c****ined down the Arsenal right to release the Ivory Coast winger, but his centre across goal from a tight angle was just too far ahead of Adebayor. Eboue was in again after 13 minutes when he scampered into the left side of the Spurs box, but was crowded out.

However, he then tripped Jonathan Woodgate before regaining the loose ball and stabbing it into the net, with celebrations cut swiftly short by the referee's whistle.

Bacary Sagna got clear on the overlap down the right, but his cross was not deep enough and easily cut out at the near post with red shirts waiting in the middle.

Eboue picked up a needless caution, but one which would later prove so costly, for complaining at the award of a free-kick against Sagna on Luka Modric after 17 minutes.

On the half-hour, Croatian Modric created space for a shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Almunia had to make a smart save low to his right.

Gael Clichy chased what looked like a lost cause down the left with Vedran Corluka. Samir Nasri nicked the ball from on the goalline before the full-back sent a low pass across the face of goal, which just eluded Adebayor.

That proved to be the last action for the African, who pulled up mid-run and was eventually carried off on a stretcher around the perimeter.

Before Arsenal could make a change, they were down to 10 men. Modric and Eboue clashed on the near touchline.

The referee had seen enough to caution both men - showing Eboue, who kicked out to trip the Spurs man, a second yellow card followed by a red.

Once calm had been restored, Nicklas Bendtner replaced Adebayor in the 38th minute.

Spurs looked to make their advantage count before the break and in stoppage time Almunia tipped over a fierce 20-yard effort from £14million-man Wilson Palacios, who once had a trial with Arsenal.

At the start of the second half, Roman Pavlyuchenko capitalised on an error by Kolo Toure to get clear into the left side of the Arsenal penalty area, but then made a complete hash of his shot which skewed wide.

After 56 minutes, Spurs came within inches of taking the lead when Keane got up to meet Lennon's cross from the right, but his close-range header skimmed the top of the crossbar.

With 20 minutes left, Arsenal had a great chance to snatch the lead when Van Persie's corner fell to Song in the six-yard box - but the midfielder could only hook the ball wide.

There was a hold up when Clichy received treatment for a cut following a clash of heads with Bent and was replaced by Kieran Gibbs.

Both sides pressed during four minutes of stoppage time, with Carlo Cudicini tipping over from Bendtner and Almunia denying Modric.