ARSENAL overcame their north London derby rivals Tottenham 2-1 in an entertaining Premier League clash at the Emirates.
Erik Lamela scored a fantastic rabona but was sent off late as Martin Odegaard and Alexandre Lacazette’s goals secured the three points.
- RESULT: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
- Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, David Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Smith Rowe, Odegaard, Saka, Lacazette
- Tottenham XI: Lloris, Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Lucas, Bale, Son, Kane
Arsenal vs Tottenham: Get Kane or Aubameyang to score at 25/1
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THAT’S ALL FROM THE EMIRATES
North London belongs to Arsenal this evening.
After five derbies without success, the Gunners fought back from a goal down to bag a deserved three points.
European qualification through the league may remain a long shot for Mikel Arteta’s men, but they now have every chance of finishing the season above their local rivals having cut the gap on Tottenham to four points.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for a side that found themselves 14 places behind Spurs following defeat in December’s reverse fixture.
And they did it without their star man, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Arsenal captain was left out as part of the club’s disciplinary measures, having reportedly arrived late to a team meeting earlier in the day.
Stand-in striker Alexandre Lacazette was the matchwinner, converting a controversial second half penalty after falling to Davinson Sanchez’s tackle in the box.
Spurs’ misery was summed up by Erik Lamela’s sending off. The substitute was red carded for two bookable offences, having earlier given his side the lead with one of the goals of the season: a rabona through the legs of Thomas Partey.
The visitors also saw a Harry Kane goal disallowed, Heung-min Son depart injured and a below-par Gareth Bale replaced prematurely. Jose Mourinho now has a task to pick his side back up for the challenge ahead.
There’s more football this evening so why not hop over to Old Trafford where Manchester United and West Ham have just got underway.
Goodnight.
MOURINHO BEMOANS PENALTY DECISION
Jose Mourinho jokingly asked whether there are any post-match interviews for referees as he disagreed with the penalty decision that cost his side a share of the North London derby. He also hit out at his players for what he called a very bad first half performance.
If somebody has a different opinion [to disagreeing with the penalty decision], they have to be one of the biggest Arsenal fans with a season ticket. It was a mistake by Michael Oliver. Maybe referees get tired.
Jose Mourinho
EMILE’S AHEAD
Emile Smith Rowe got the nod on the left ahead of Willian this afternoon, and repaid his manager’s faith with another standout performance full of pace, trickery and creativity.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Relive the action from the Emirates as Mark Irwin reports on Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the North London derby.
Mikel Arteta’s bold decision to axe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang paid off as striking replacement Alexandre Lacazette settled a thrilling North London derby from the spot.
ARTETA’S DERBY DELIGHT
Mikel Arteta has won his first North London derby as Arsenal boss, and has been quick to praise his players for the spirit they showed in fighting back from 1-0 down,
This team has shown recently that they have the reaction within them, that they’re not going to give up, they’re going to keep on believing. We kept generating chances and we were rewarded for that.
Mikel Arteta
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Having beaten Arsenal comfortably in December, Spurs came into this contest on the back of five straight wins and looking to complete their first double over their rivals since 1993.
They blew it, and they may not have a better opportunity for some time – not that Arsenal fans are letting them know about it, of course.
ALEXANDRE THE GREAT
Following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s omission, Alexandre Lacazette stepped in as striker and captain, and capped a decent performance with the winning goal from the penalty spot.
It’s amazing. We wanted to win this game for us as well as for the fans. I think they’re happy even if we missed them in the stadium, but it was really important for us to win the derby.
Alexandre Lacazette
WRIGHT DELIGHT
One Arsenal legend has dug out his Neil Diamond LP and cranked up the volume in order to celebrate the North London derby win.
DERBY DAY CHOKERS
Once again, Tottenham have lost a North London derby having taken the lead. It’s been an unfortunate running theme for Spurs since the Premier League’s introduction in 1992.
FULL TIME STATS
Arsenal get their rewards for a dominant performance in which they registered more possession, passes, attempts, crosses and touches in the opposition box.
FT: ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
The bragging rights belong to Arsenal in North London. The Gunners fought back from a goal behind to win following a first Premier League goal from Martin Odegaard and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty. Erik Lamela opened the scoring with an outstanding rabona, but was later sent off for two bookable offences.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE IS BLOWN!ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
90+5. Kane and Reguilon stand over the ball while Cedric lies behind a packed wall.
The set-piece probably slightly favours the left-footer, but there’s only going to be one man taking this.
Kane steps up! Over! It’s going to be Arsenal’s North London derby!
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
90+4. A weaving run by Lucas Moura is brought to an end by a cluster of desperate Arsenal defenders.
It’s a free-kick. It’s 22 yards from goals. It’s central. It’s Tottenham’s last chance.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
90. There will be five minutes of stoppage time to be played.
Mikel Arteta is extremely animated in his technical area.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
89. Brilliant strike from Kane! Off the post!
A five-man Arsenal wall are unable to stop Kane’s free-kick that has Leno heading the wrong way. The Spurs striker initially thinks it is, and looks on in despair as it clatters back off the base of the woodwork.
Sanchez looks set to covert the rebound, only for Gabriel to somehow to keep out the follow up with his head.
Arsenal are hanging on!
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
88. Spurs win another free-kick, approximately 30 yards from goal.
It’s a long way out, but it is within Harry Kane range. The striker stands over it.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
87. Another Arsenal change as Mohamed Elneny replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
86. The Gunners do the job in defending the corner, but Spurs are coming again.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
85. Kane is lurking at the far post once again as a delivery comes in from the right, but David Luiz gets across to nod behind. It’s a Tottenham corner.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
83. Kane has the ball in the back of the net! But the linesman’s flag is up for offside!
The Tottenham strike finally gets a telling touch in the box, heading in Doherty’s set-piece at the far post. However, Kane had set off too early, and was clearly a yard ahead of the Arsenal backline when the ball was played.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
82. Xhaka is booked. There’s no way he could miss out on all the fun, is there?
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
80. Into the final ten minutes at the Emirates.
Arsenal have been dominant throughout, lead the game and have a man advantage. If this was a normal sport, the Gunners would comfortably see it out. As it is, they’re now dropping deep and hanging on.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
79. A thumping challenge from Xhaka on Doherty! He had to make sure he timed that one perfectly otherwise it would have been ten men against ten.
ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
77. It had been coming!
Ever since his arrival as a 17th minute substitute, Erik Lamela has been flying into challenges, flicking his boots at opponents and waving his arms around.
It’s the latter that finally does for him in the eyes of Michael Oliver. Attempting to fend off Kieran Tierney, the Argentine thrusts his forearm into the left-back’s face, and receives a second yellow card.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
