Arsenal triumphed over Tottenham 2-1 in a thrilling North London Derby, securing crucial points in the Premier League. The Gunners displayed intensity from the outset, pressing Spurs and unsettling their defense, particularly goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who struggled against Arsenal’s set-piece tactics.
Despite dominating the opening minutes, Arsenal conceded first when Son Heung-min scored through a deflection after Spurs missed earlier chances.
However, Arsenal quickly regained momentum. Gabriel leveled the score with a header from a set piece shortly before halftime, though the goal was disputed by Pedro Porro, who argued the ball should have been a goal kick. Minutes later, Leandro Trossard’s powerful shot, which Kinsky mishandled, gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou made bold halftime substitutions, bringing on Brennan Johnson and James Maddison for struggling midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr. These changes added an attacking edge to Spurs, but Arsenal maintained control for most of the second half. Although Spurs threatened late in the game, Arsenal’s defense held firm to secure the victory.
Arsenal Player Ratings
David Raya (GK, 6.5): Had little chance with Son’s deflected goal and was largely untested apart from one save in the first half.
Jurrien Timber (RB, 7): Solid defensively, effectively limiting Son’s influence and showing composure on the ball.
William Saliba (CB, 7.5): Confident in defense, managing Spurs striker Dominic Solanke well.
Gabriel (CB, 8): Key tackles and defensive contributions, including scoring the equalizer.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB, 7.5): Displayed maturity, maintaining composure and growing in confidence.
Thomas Partey (CM, 6.5): Reliable but occasionally slowed the midfield tempo.
Declan Rice (CM, 8.5): Delivered excellent set-pieces, controlled the midfield, and contributed offensively.
Martin Odegaard (CM, 7.5): Played with quality and controlled key moments in the midfield.
Raheem Sterling (RW, 6): Struggled to make an impact before being substituted.
Kai Havertz (ST, 6): Largely ineffective in attack.
Leandro Trossard (LW, 8): Troubled Porro consistently and scored the decisive goal.
Substitutes: Gabriel Martinelli (7) provided a constant threat on the wing, while Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Mikel Merino had minimal impact.
Despite Spurs’ improvements after halftime, Arsenal’s dominance and effective set-piece play proved decisive, with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard standing out as key players.
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