An own goal from Solanke and winner from Trossard take the Gunners into second place
Arsenal reignited their Premier League title ambitions with a spirited 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. The Gunners, who had been reeling from recent cup eliminations, produced a stirring comeback to claim a much-needed three points that reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to four points.
Son Opens the Scoring for Spurs
The derby started with high stakes for both teams. Arsenal, eager to recover from a bleak week of cup exits, saw an early chance squandered by Raheem Sterling. The winger broke through on goal but miscontrolled, allowing Djed Spence to clear. Moments later, Tottenham’s debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky narrowly avoided disaster as his hesitant clearance nearly gifted a goal to Kai Havertz.
Tottenham, despite their struggles in the Premier League, struck first in the 25th minute. Following an Arsenal clearance from a corner, the ball fell to Son Heung-min at the edge of the box. The South Korean fired a powerful strike that deflected off William Saliba and flew past David Raya into the net. Son’s goal lifted him to fourth in the all-time North London Derby scoring charts with eight goals, trailing only Harry Kane (14), Emmanuel Adebayor (10), and Bobby Smith (10).
Arsenal Respond with Two Quick Goals
Arsenal, unfazed by falling behind, rallied before halftime. Their equalizer came in the 40th minute under controversial circumstances. A corner awarded to Arsenal should have been a goal-kick as the ball had ricocheted off Leandro Trossard. Nevertheless, Declan Rice delivered a dangerous cross, and Gabriel’s header back into the six-yard box deflected off Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke for an own goal.
The Gunners capitalized on their regained momentum just four minutes later. Thomas Partey intercepted Yves Bissouma in midfield, launching a counterattack. Captain Martin Odegaard slid an incisive pass to Trossard, who surged into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful low drive that beat Kinsky at his near post. Arsenal entered halftime with a 2-1 lead, overturning Spurs’ early advantage.
Second-Half Control but Missed Opportunities
The Gunners dominated proceedings after the break, pushing Tottenham deeper into their half. However, Arsenal’s inefficiency in front of goal prevented them from extending their lead. Havertz missed two golden opportunities, heading wide from an Odegaard cross and failing to capitalize on another delivery from Partey.
Arsenal continued to test Kinsky, who redeemed himself with saves from Declan Rice and Odegaard. Despite their dominance, the Gunners couldn’t find a third goal, leaving the door slightly ajar for Tottenham to mount a late response.
Spurs Fall Short in Dramatic Finale
Tottenham came close to snatching a point in the dying minutes. Pedro Porro, introduced as a substitute, struck the post with a long-range effort that had Raya beaten. However, Spurs couldn’t convert their late pressure into an equalizer, and Arsenal held firm to secure a crucial victory.
Arteta’s Arsenal Back on Track
The win marked Arsenal’s first in four matches across all competitions and their seventh victory in their last eight league meetings with Tottenham. With Liverpool held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest, the result allowed Arsenal to narrow the gap at the top of the table to four points, although Liverpool still have a game in hand.
Arsenal back up to 2nd
Newcastle move into 4thThe state of play in the top six after today’s matches pic.twitter.com/iFmfnYw02Q
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 15, 2025
This victory also eased some pressure on Mikel Arteta, whose team had faced scrutiny after disappointing exits in the League Cup and FA Cup. Despite missing key players such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Riccardo Calafiori due to injuries, Arsenal displayed resilience and tactical nous to outclass their rivals.
Tottenham’s Struggles Continue
For Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham, the defeat deepened their woes. Spurs have now gone five league games without a win, losing four, and sit precariously in 13th place, just eight points above the relegation zone. Postecoglou’s side has struggled with inconsistency, as highlighted by their narrow FA Cup win over fifth-tier Tamworth and a League Cup victory over Liverpool.
Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities were laid bare once again, and their inability to capitalize on early momentum cost them dearly. Postecoglou will need to address his side’s frailties quickly to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
Key Performances
- Leandro Trossard: Arsenal’s Belgian forward was instrumental, scoring the decisive goal with a composed finish just before halftime.
- Thomas Partey: The midfielder delivered a commanding performance, breaking up play and setting up the counterattack that led to Trossard’s winner.
- Son Heung-min: The Tottenham star provided a moment of brilliance with his first-half strike, but it wasn’t enough to inspire a comeback.
- Antonin Kinsky: Spurs’ debutant goalkeeper endured a nervy night, his mistakes contributing to Arsenal’s equalizer and overall dominance.
What’s Next?
Arsenal will look to build on this result as they aim to keep pace with Liverpool in the title race. With the return of key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus still weeks away, Arteta will need his squad to maintain their newfound momentum in the coming fixtures.
Tottenham, on the other hand, must regroup and address their ongoing struggles. Postecoglou will need to instill greater consistency in his team to steer them away from the lower reaches of the table.
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