Arsenal silenced the doubters with their first-half performance v Tottenham on Saturday.

The build-up to the latest North London derby was headlined by the idea that Tottenham were very much the dominant force and favourites going into the game.

Last season saw Spurs finish above their local rivals for the first time since Arsene Wenger's arrival and have looked far more consistent and impressive this term.

Wenger deployed Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez together for only the second time this season with fast attacking football quickly vindicating the decision.

Tottenham looked dangerous on the counterattack but Arsenal had their rivals up against the wall for large periods, eventually breaking the deadlock virtue of Shkodran Mustafa.

The German headed home from a free-kick before Sanchez then doubled the home side's lead with a close range finish past Hugo Lloris.

It was a theme maintained beyond the break with Mauricio Pochettino eventually, reluctantly, pulling off the half-fit Harry Kane and out-of-sorts Dele Alli.

The commitment from the likes of Ozil, who has been criticised for how much he runs he big matches, caught the eye of fans and earned him the Man of the Match award to go with all the praise.

And Sanchez was joining him in demonstrating the incredible effort behind Arsenal's performance with some more, typically brilliant flashes of passion.

Take a look:

Not only does the Chilean deserve great credit for staying on his feet so well when through on goal but his determination to win the ball back afterwards was sheer clash.

Gary Neville certainly saw the funny side of it, too, joking: "He did the celebration without the goal."

Exactly Gary, but he had 90 minutes of blood, sweat and tears to afford him that moment.

Fans will just have to hope he sticks around for more impassioned North London derbies in the future - he'll be missed if he isn't.

Do you think Arsenal were right to hang onto Alexis this summer? Have your say in the comments section below.