Van Persie grabs brace in derby triumph

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie struck twice to earn his side bragging rights in north London following the 3-0 victory which puts a question mark over whether rivals Tottenham can sustain a top-four challenge in the Barclays Premier League.

Spurs have not won a league game against Arsenal for a decade and they fell away after Van Persie opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium, with Cesc Fabregas adding the second a minute later after winning the ball straight from the kick-off.

The two sides went into the weekend level on points, albeit with Spurs having played a game more, but talk of the gap between the clubs being closed was well and truly ended when Van Persie tapped in the third after the break.

Spurs did not create much in the first half but limited their rivals to half-chances, aside from when Ledley King's tackle on Andrey Arshavin fell for Fabregas with most of the goal to aim for.

Even then Heurelho Gomes threw himself to his left to save the effort.

Van Persie fired wide after Benoit Assou-Ekotto's error and Arshavin had an effort deflected over but the hosts were not made to wait long for the opener.

Bacary Sagna's cross from the right was met by Van Persie and crept in at Gomes' near post after the Dutchman got across King.

The second came 11 seconds after Spurs kicked off. Wilson Palacios tripped over himself and Fabregas took charge, bursting through challenges from the Honduras international and Tom Huddlestone before skipping around King and planting the ball past Gomes.

In the second half Arsenal looked to extend their lead. Eduardo, a replacement after Bendtner picked up an apparent groin injury, was sent through by Fabregas but Gomes stood up well.

When Eduardo was floored by Assou-Ekotto, the assistant flagged for a foul but referee Mark Clattenburg allowed Sagna to continue after most had stopped. Sagna's cross went through Gomes and King before Van Persie wrapped it up.