Arsenal finally shook off their Old Trafford hangover, but only after an incredible north London derby at White Hart Lane as they prevailed against Tottenham in a nine-goal thriller.
Martin Jol cannot have known what hit him as his side were ripped to shreds by a vibrant Arsenal side, with five different scorers for the visitors.
However, Arsenal's defence was just as vulnerable as Spurs not only took the lead, but also hauled themselves back into contention on three other occasions in an incredible encounter.
The net result after the drama had ended was that Arsenal had stamped their authority back on the title race, moving top of the table - however potentially briefly - with a 5-4 victory.
And so, having failed to win any of their previous five Premiership and Champions League games, the hangover of the Old Trafford defeat was finally cured, albeit in a nerve-shredding finale.
Jol's problems are only just beginning. It is all very well trying to play champagne football, but Jacques Santini's attempt to bolster Spurs' defence had a well-founded reason.
For Tottenham were swept aside too easily on the break and, having shipped three goals to Charlton last weekend, he already has job on his hands even if his side showed the character not to give up.
His predecessor, Santini, was ironically enough at White Hart Lane to watch, just a week after walking out for personal reasons , now working as an analyst for French television.
Santini saw his former side, with Michael Carrick making his first Barclays Premiership start for the club and Ledley King captaining the team, make a forceful start.
Jens Lehmann was twice called upon to make important interventions and, in a frenetic first-half, Spurs finally made the most of their war of attrition as they seized the lead on 36 minutes.
Patrick Vieira failed to cut out Carrick's free-kick delivery and the ball landed at the feet of the unmarked figure of Noureddine Naybet on the edge of the six-yard box.
He controlled the ball with his first touch and then bundled a shot past Lehmann to score his first Spurs goal and leave Jol jumping for joy on the touchline.
Lehmann was called upon to tip the ball over the bar soon afterwards but although Spurs were now buoyant, Arsenal showed the character to rally with just seconds of the first-half left.
Lauren lofted a throughball down the centre to Thierry Henry, who brought the ball under control before jinking inside and finishing past Paul Robinson.
With confidence levels restored, Arsenal were quickly back into their stride after the restart, even if Jose Reyes was guilty of an amazing miss as he virtually passed the ball back to Robinson.
Pascal Cygan also blasted the ball over the bar, but Arsenal were then awarded a penalty on 53 minutes when Noe Pamarot was adjudged to have fouled Fredrik Ljungberg.
Rather than Henry, up stepped Lauren to convert the spot-kick as confidently as his penalty winner three seasons earlier at Highbury against Spurs.
While he celebrated, a horde of Spurs players surrounded Ljungberg in protest, and the home side were certainly rattled.
For just a few minutes later, after Vieira had all too easily won possession in central midfield, the Frenchman strode unchallenged through the centre to finish with aplomb.
And that was it. Or at least it should have been, had Arsenal not recently displayed a worrying inability to hold onto leads.
Just a short while later, Jermain Defoe embarked on a dazzling run from the touchline, past at least three Arsenal players, before curling his shot into the top corner to give Spurs renewed hope.
And while Arsenal went further ahead, with Ljungberg scampering onto a pass from Cesc Fabregas to clip his shot past Robinson, Spurs responded again.
King rose to meet Carrick's lofted free-kick and head past Lehmann only to spark Arsenal into action once again.
This time, it was substitute Robert Pires who struck, capitalising on Henry's pass to make it 5-3.
Tottenham were at least not giving up and substitute Freddie Kanoute gave them another faint glimmer of hope with two minutes left.
Henry was guilty of giving the ball away, enabling Reto Ziegler to loft a through-ball forward, which Kanoute capitalised on.
Arsenal nevertheless just held out, albeit only after Simon Davies flashed a shot past the post to leave both sets of supporters breathless.
The Gunners, however, are finally back in business.
