Arsenal moved within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool following a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium. Despite initially trailing due to Heung-Min Son's unexpected strike, Arsenal rallied with a gritty performance that saw them equalize through Dominic Solanke's own goal before Leandro Trossard secured the win just before half-time.
The encounter was a pulsating affair, with Arsenal dominating the early exchanges but frustratingly falling behind for the third time in eight days on their home turf. Tottenham's goal came against the run of play, courtesy of Son's clinical finish that momentarily silenced the boisterous home crowd. However, Arsenal's resilience shone through as they capitalized on an error from Tottenham, with Solanke inadvertently turning the ball into his own net.
Leandro Trossard emerged as the hero for the Gunners, scoring what would be the decisive goal on the stroke of half-time. His effort capped off a spirited first-half display by Arsenal, who managed to overturn their deficit and enter the break with a newfound confidence. Yet, the second half presented its challenges, as Arsenal struggled to maintain their momentum and secure a more comfortable victory margin.
Tottenham attempted to turn the tide by introducing Richarlison into the fray, marking his return from injury. Despite this strategic move, Spurs rarely posed a threat during the second half. Their closest opportunity came in stoppage time when Pedro Porro's shot ricocheted off the post, leaving them agonizingly close to an equalizer.
Arsenal's Declan Rice lauded his team's performance, emphasizing their determination and collective effort.
"The boys were outstanding," Rice commented after the match.
Miles Lewis-Skelly also received praise for his standout performance, boasting an impressive 93.8% passing accuracy and a substantial number of tackles and possession wins.
Speaking after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the team's perseverance but stressed the need for continued hard work.
"We just didn't play near the identity of what I want us to be. We're an aggressive team with and without the ball – we showed that against Liverpool but tonight we were way too passive. That's not acceptable. Second half was a little better but it wasn't enough," Arteta stated.
Arteta highlighted the challenges posed by recent injuries to key players Gabi Jesus and Bukayo Saka, which have impacted their squad depth and options.
"This can't be accepted by anyone at the club, us losing so many games in a league season isn't right. Yes we are asking big jobs but I hope the 18-year-olds [Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall] are hurting as much as anyone else in terms of not being able to deliver on a big day," Arteta continued.
On the opposing side, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed his disappointment with his team's performance, particularly in the first half.
"Not good enough, especially the first half which was way too passive. We allowed Arsenal to take control. I was disappointed with us with and without the ball, allowing them to dictate the tempo. Nowhere near good enough," Postecoglou remarked.
Despite Tottenham's efforts to claw back into the game, their inability to assert themselves early on proved costly. The north London derby once again showcased Arsenal's tenacity in critical moments, propelling them closer to the top of the table.
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