ARSENAL beat Tottenham 3-1 in a devastating North London derby performance at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were the best of an excellent bunch as Mikel Arteta’s men produced a showing Gooners have been crying out for for months.
Arsenal burst out the blocks in frenetic fashion in front of a raucous full house.
And the first-half simply could not have gone better as Smith Rowe, Aubameyang and Saka sent the Gunners in 3-0 up at the break.
Everyone in the ground enjoyed the second-half and even Son Heung-min’s consolation could not dampen the mood.
And here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of the Gunners’ individual performances.
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AARON RAMSDALE – 8/10
Great save at his near post from Son 21 minutes in to keep Arsenal 1-0 up.
Xhaka saved his skin when his dodgy pass out was rescued by the Swiss who sprung the counter-attack which led to Aubameyang’s goal.
Got down well to deny Harry Kane on the hour mark – though it may have been going wide.
Couldn’t do much for Son’s goal. Phenomenal save in the dying moments to keep it at 3-1.
TAKEHIRO TOMIYASU – 6
Superb energy levels early on and sought to link up with Saka on the regular.
Allowed Son in on a couple of occasions when Spurs tried to spring counters.
Failed to intercept a ball in the build up to Son’s consolation.
BEN WHITE – 7
Simple but effective slide tackle on Son in the second minute set the tone and got the crowd going.
Stuck to Kane like glue in the first-half and hardly put a foot wrong.
Fortunate not to give away a penalty ten minutes into the second-half after a late tackle on Kane – though the England man did make a meal of it.
GABRIEL – 6
Wasn’t tested much in the first-half. Nor the second.
Neat and tidy when called upon. Earned his money.
KIERAN TIERNEY – 6
Huffed and puffed down the left wing as he tried to attack but to no real avail.
Defensively sound though.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Nearly put the Gunners two up after quarter of an hour with a vicious effort from the edge of the box which was well saved by Hugo Lloris.
Helped Arsenal snuff out any Tottenham danger further up the pitch.
GRANIT XHAKA (subbed 80 mins) – 9
Vital interception in Arsenal’s box to quell a dangerous Spurs attack early on.
Broke up play effectively including a couple of well-placed tactical fouls.
Bailed out Ramsdale by reaching his weak backpass before a Spurs attacker, turned and fed Aubameyang who scored after a one-two with Smith Rowe just seconds later.
Also started the move for Arsenal’s third. Silenced the many pre-game doubters suggesting Albert Sambi Lokonga should have started in his place.
Limped off injured with ten minutes to go and got an well-deserved rapturous reception.
BUKAYO SAKA (subbed 86 mins) – 9
Looked well up for it from the first whistle and his neat play down the right was followed by an inch perfect cross which Smith Rowe finished to make it 1-0.
Set up Partey with a chance straight after.
And all-but killed the game with 10 to go in the first-half when he beat Dier, got a large slice of fortune as the ball fell back into his path off a slide-tackling Kane but made no mistake by slotting the ball home with his right foot.
The performance of a future Arsenal captain.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 8
Heavily involved in the early stages as he tried to link play from back to front.
Set Saka away down the right before he played Smith Rowe in for the opening goal.
Was Arsenal’s main tempo-setter in the first 45 along with Smith Rowe – just in a more understated fashion. Excellent throughout.
EMILE SMITH ROWE (subbed 86 mins) – 9
Ghosted in to the box to slide home to give the Gunners a deserved lead after 12 minutes.
Sprinted from inside his own half to be available for Aubameyang, drove forward after receiving the ball and kept a calm head to set the Gabonese up to make it 2-0.
Bags of energy throughout and played like a seasoned pro rather than a 21-year-old. Phenomenal.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG – 8
Stung Lloris’ palms with a near post effort after six minutes.
Played a delightful one-two with Smith Rowe before stroking home with his left to make it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark.
Looked like the Aubameyang Gooners have missed since he signed his £350,000-a-week deal.
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Subs
ALBERT SAMBI LOKONGA (replaced Xhaka) – 6
Put himself about well for the short time he was on. Booked with a minute of normal time to go.
AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES (replaced Saka) – 6
NUNO TAVARES (replaced Smith Rowe) – 6
Full of running as Arsenal saw the game out.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
