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Arsenal secured a much-needed 2-1 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta called the North London derby “the best game of the season to watch”. Neutrals – if such a thing exists in the modern game – will certainly have enjoyed this midweek offering of anarchy-ball, a contest filled with more moments of disaster than quality.
Armory Arteta started the brighter of the two sides, charging their formidable opponents against the backdrop of a raucous crowd that had spent all week building up. However, Son Heung-min calmed the Emirates in the 25th minute.
The Tottenham captain was first to reach a half-cleared corner and control a low volley into the crowded box, which deflected over. William SalibaNo thumbs and ahead of David Raya.
The Gunners, fresh from a consecutive cup defeat against Newcastle in front of their own fans and Manchester United In the last week, may very well sink. In reality, Arsenal only had to hold out long enough for Tottenham’s own insecurities to catch up.
Spurs – and the rest of the division – will be well aware of the threat Arsenal, and Gabriel in particular, pose from corner kicks. Yet the Brazilian centre-back – who scored the winner in the reverse fixture – found space at the back post to head the ball over the line through Dominic Solanke’s midriff in the 40th minute. All three, before the half-time whistle could be blown Tottenham Mistakes gave Arsenal the lead as Leandro Trossard pierced through the visitors’ soft centre.
Ange Postecoglou He who lives by the sword and dies by the sword is nothing but a manger. The half-time interval saw the arrival of James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, who holed out Tottenham’s midfield in search of an all-important equaliser.
That dramatic change served to expose rather than enliven the Spurs. The visitors didn’t force Ryan into a single save in the second half, and were equally prone to the odd lapse in concentration with the ball in their own half.
Arteta – who responded to Postecoglou’s all-out attack by switching to a system with two left-backs – once again wasted the plethora of opportunities presented to his side. Unlike Arsenal’s last two opponents, Spurs were unable to punish the Gunners’ foul play and were consigned to their second derby defeat of the league season.
|
Player |
rating |
|---|---|
|
GK: David Raya |
7.3/10 |
|
RB: Jurin Timber |
7.5/10 |
|
CB: William Saliba |
7.5/10 |
|
CB: Gabriel |
7.2/10 |
|
LB: Miles Lewis-Skelley |
7.5/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Martin Odegaard |
8.4/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Thomas Party |
7.2/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Declan Rice |
7.3/10 |
|
RW: Raheem Sterling |
7.0/10 |
|
ST: Kai Havertz |
6.3/10 |
|
LW: Leandro Trossard |
8.2/10 |
|
Sub: Gabriel Martinelli (61′ for Sterling) |
6.3/10 |
|
Sub: Kieran Tierney (77′ for Trossard) |
6.2/10 |
|
Sub: Oleksandr Zinchenko (87′ for Lewis-Skelley) |
N/A |
|
Sub: Mikel Marino (87′ Rice) |
N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Jacob Kiwier, Jorginho, Ismail Kabia, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
|
Player |
rating |
|---|---|
|
GK: Antonin Kinski |
6.6/10 |
|
RB: Pedro Poro |
6.5/10 |
|
CB: Radu Dragusin |
6.1/10 |
|
CB: Archie Gray |
5.9/10 |
|
LB: DJ Spence |
5.8/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Pope Sir |
5.4/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Yves Bissoma |
5.0/10 |
|
Chief Minister: Lucas Bergwall |
7.3/10 |
|
RW: Dejan Kulusevski |
6.8/10 |
|
ST: Dominic Solanke |
5.2/10 |
|
LW: Son Hang-min |
7.1/10 |
|
Sub: James Maddison (46′ for Bissoma) |
6.7/10 |
|
Sub: Brennan Johnson (for Sir 46′) |
6.0/10 |
|
Sub: Richarlison (78′ for son) |
6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusi, Sergio Regulone, Mickey Moore, Will Lancashire
