Arsenal are close to four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after a stunning comeback against Tottenham in north London.
Arsenal reignite their Premier League title challenge with thrilling fightback North London derby beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1.
Mikel Arteta’s side were stunned by Son Heung-min’s opener at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, but were left undone by Dominic Solanke’s own goal and Leandro Trossard’s penalty before half-time. Goal scored and they earned bragging rights against their bitter rivals.
Arsenal’s first win in four games in all competitions brought them within four points of leaders Liverpool, who were held to a draw. 1-1 draw Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Liverpool’s game against Arsenal still leaves them as title favorites, but the Gunners at least put some pressure on Arne Slott’s side.
Defeated 2-0 by Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals last week and eliminated on penalties by 10-man Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, Arsenal are desperate for a response and Tottenham have once again proved their ideal opponents.
Questions have been raised over Arteta’s ability to add more trophies to the 2020 FA Cup, which remains the only trophy that began his 2019 reign.
With Bukayo Saka already sidelined following hamstring surgery, Gabriel Jesus’ potentially season-ending knee injury has added to Arteta’s woes.
But Arsenal have won seven of their last eight league games against Tottenham and drawn one.
It is another painful blow for under-criticized Spurs boss Postkoglu, whose side are just eight points above the relegation zone.
Postkoglu must find a solution to the inconsistency of a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and then an extra-time defeat to fifth-tier Tamworth in the FA Cup third round.
Tottenham Hotspur are without a win in their past five league games, losing four of them and falling to 13th in the rankings.
Raheem Sterling squandered a golden opportunity to give Arsenal an early lead when his powerful touch allowed Djed Spence to clear after the winger had charged into goal.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinski looked nervous and was lucky not to score against Arsenal on his Premier League debut as he took too long to clear Kai Haver Ci was unable to complete the final blow.
Tottenham Hotspur launched a counterattack in the 25th minute and opened the scoring for the team.
When Arsenal could only clear a corner kick to the edge of the box, Son Heung-min’s shot glanced past William Saliba and past David Raya.
The South Korean’s goal moved him into fourth place on the all-time North London derby scorers list with eight goals, behind Harry Kane’s 14 and Emmanuel Ade 10 goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Bobby Smith.
Arteta’s side regained their composure before half-time to regain control in controversial fashion. They won a 40th-minute corner which replays showed should have been a goal kick as it bounced off Trossard and took full advantage.
Declan Rice’s pass was misjudged by Kinski and Gabriel’s header returned to the six-yard box, coming in thanks to a heavy deflection from the unfortunate Solanke. It was the fourth time since the start of last season that set-piece specialists Arsenal have scored from a corner against Tottenham Hotspur.
Postkoglu was furious at the decision to take the corner, but worse for the Australians, Trossard gave Arsenal the lead in the 44th minute. Thomas Partey first dispossessed Yves Bissouma in midfield and picked out Martin Odegaard.
A pass from the Arsenal captain allowed Trossard to sprint into the box and fire a fierce low shot into the far corner, beating Kinski’s weak save.
Arsenal still held the lead after the break but the profligate Havertz headed wide from Odegaard’s cross and nodded straight at Kinski from Partey’s pass. Kinski saved from Rice and Odegaard in the closing stages as Arsenal threatened to win at a canter before Pedro Polo scored a dramatic finish for Tottenham.