In a captivating 95 minutes of football, Arsenal emerged victorious in the North London derby with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, determined to bounce back after recent cup defeats, reignited their Premier League campaign and narrowed the gap to league leaders Liverpool to just four points.
Mikel Arteta’s side started the game with dominance in possession but faced early challenges on the counterattack. Djed Spence’s electrifying run down the left flank nearly resulted in a Spurs opener, but Gabriel’s heroic recovery challenge thwarted Dominic Solanke’s close-range effort. Moments later, goalkeeper David Raya delivered a crucial save to deny Dejan Kulusevski from point-blank range.
Tottenham took the lead in dramatic fashion. Gabriel’s attempted clearance from a corner fell to Son Heung-min, whose deflected volley navigated a path through the Arsenal defense and past Raya. The Gunners responded just before halftime with a contentious equalizer. Declan Rice’s corner found Gabriel at the back post, and his header ricocheted off Solanke into the net. Spurs players protested the corner decision, claiming the ball had last touched Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, but the goal stood.
Minutes later, Arsenal completed the turnaround. Yves Bissouma lost possession in midfield, allowing Martin Ødegaard to feed Trossard, whose powerful strike proved too much for Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Despite their best efforts, Tottenham could not regain control of the match in the second half.
Kai Havertz came close to extending Arsenal’s lead, heading narrowly wide from an Ødegaard corner. Spurs had a brief chance to equalize, but a defensive mix-up left Havertz and Raheem Sterling unable to capitalize. Arsenal’s relentless attacking continued, with Rice and Gabriel Martinelli narrowly missing opportunities to add a third goal. In the dying moments, Spurs’ Pedro Porro rattled the post with a vicious cross, but Arsenal held firm to claim the win.
The victory lifted Arsenal back into second place, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest, while Tottenham faced the prospect of falling as low as 14th by the end of the round.
Player Ratings
Goalkeeper & Defense
- David Raya (7/10): Played a pivotal role in the win with a series of confident claims and an excellent early save to deny Kulusevski.
- Jurrien Timber (7/10): Held his ground against Spurs’ captain Son Heung-min, recovering from the early goal to put in a tireless defensive performance.
- William Saliba (7/10): A mixed display with a significant error for Son’s goal but showed resilience in defense afterward.
- Gabriel (8/10): A standout performer at both ends. His sliding challenge on Solanke was crucial, and he played a key role in Arsenal’s equalizer.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (8/10): The 18-year-old dazzled in a derby debut to remember. Apart from a minor foul throw, his composure and skill were impeccable, earning him a standing ovation when substituted.
Conclusion
This thrilling derby win rekindles Arsenal’s aspirations for Premier League glory. With their confidence restored, Arteta’s side will look to carry this momentum into upcoming fixtures and keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Spurs face a challenging road ahead as they aim to climb out of mid-table mediocrity.
