Tottenham 2 Arsenal 3
A North London derby like no other was the prospect at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Postecoglou’s side are still chasing fourth spot in the Premier League and would love nothing more than to derail Arsenal’s title challenge in the process.
The hosts started the game looking to put pressure on The Gunners. They were dominating possession and Son laid the ball off to Maddison but he got right underneath his effort as it flew high over the crossbar. In a game of fine margins, these half chances can prove costly.
Arteta’s side managed to force an early corner, which was headed into his own net by Hojbjerg. There is never a good time to beat your own keeper but against your local rivals is right up there as one of the worst. It silenced the home fans.
The movement of the Spurs front line was causing the visitors problems. As Maddison was fouled in a wide area, Werner swung a cross in and Romero had a free header at the back post. His effort came crashing back off the post but he really should have equalised.
Credit: @Arsenal
Tottenham thought they had got the goal they craved when van de Ven slotted past Raya to send the ground into delirium. The celebrations were short-lived as VAR reviewed it and ruled the defender’s strike out for offside.
Spurs felt they should have had a penalty for a foul on Kulusevski but Arsenal broke straight down the other end of the pitch to score. Saka received the ball in the box and cut onto his left foot before stroking it past Vicario to double their lead.
Things were to go from bad to worse for the hosts when Arteta’s side forced another corner. Havertz rose at the near post for a free header to put The Gunners three-nil up. This was turning into a horror show for Ange Postecoglou’s side in North London.
Into the second half and Spurs did not give up on getting back into the game. Kulusevski sent a cross into the box and Romero got there before the flapping Raya. Sadly for the home fans, the Argentine could not keep his effort below the crossbar.
Arsenal looked dangerous on the counter-attack and almost added another as Saka was found with a cross into the box. His volley seemed to be heading into the back of the net until an outstretched leg by Vicario turned it over the bar.
David Raya was brought in at Arsenal for his abilities with the ball at his feet, something he has looked a liability at all season. He chipped the ball straight to Romero, who took it on his chest, and stroked it home past the calamitous keeper.
Credit: @SpursOfficial
Suddenly, there was hope that Spurs could do the unthinkable. They had been gifted a goal by The Gunners’ Drake lookalike. This would prove to be a sterner test of Mikel Arteta’s side than he had hoped in this second half.
Ben Davies went to win the ball just inside the penalty area. He got to the ball first and Declan Rice volleyed the player, nowhere near the ball. Despite being stood yards away from the incident, the referee inexplicably waved away their claims.
VAR reviewed the challenge and sent Michael Oliver to the monitor. It seems he is better at spotting fouls in slow motion and reversed his decision to award the penalty. Son stepped up and buried his effort in the top corner with at least five minutes left to play.
Tottenham tried to pile the pressure on their rivals but The Gunners managed to hold on. Arsenal celebrated like it was a huge step towards a Premier League title but Man City still have a lot to say about that outcome. Nevertheless, this was a massive win.
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