A weakened Arsenal team defeated Tottenham 1-0 thanks to Gabriel’s header in the second half, maintaining pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League title chase.
After a home draw against Brighton before the international break, Arsenal’s match against their rival, City, was already being referred to as a make-or-break match in their bid to become champions. They will play the match at City in seven days.
However, without stars Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, Gabriel’s goal in the 64th minute gave the Gunners all three points, securing their title credentials and leaving Spurs with just one win so far this season.
The absence of Odegaard and Rice from Arsenal’s midfield came from the former’s ankle injury and the latter’s suspension following his red card against Brighton. Jorginho took over from Rice as Leandro Trossard was tasked with filling Odegaard’s role as the team’s conductor.
Leading the assault after sitting out two games due to an ankle injury is Solanke.
And as soon as the former Bournemouth player broke free in the Arsenal penalty area, he found Son Heung-min, whose pull-back to Dejan Kulusevski forced a superb stop from David Raya.
Raya was once again required to intervene after Kulusevski’s cross on the opposite end of the field split the Arsenal defense.
Spurs were ahead, and Ben White, who, because of a kit clash, was wearing black along with his Arsenal teammates for the first time in nearly forty years when the Gunners played a north London derby instead of red, had his blushes saved after fifteen minutes.
Son pounced on White after discovering Solanke in the area, but the England international was not quick enough on the uptake. William Saliba did not need a second invitation to dispose of him when Solanke really should have done better.
In a fiercely contested first period, Arsenal faced Tottenham Hotspur, who were quickest out of their marks. However, Arsenal came into the game, and Kai Havertz’s header from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross was saved by Guglielmo Vicario before the Brazilian should have put the Gunners ahead.
The hosts’ effort was tame, and Mikel Arteta on the touchline was furious. Jurrien Timber’s challenge on Pedro Porro sparked a brawl, with both men booked, but Timber escaped a red card for going over the top of the ball following a VAR check. Van de Ven’s header was the only real chance of the second period up to that point.
Arsenal looked threatening on the counterattack, with Martinelli and Havertz linking up to put Bukayo Saka through. Gabriel ghosted off Cristian Romero, and with Vicario blocked off, the Brazilian headed home unmarked from a few yards out. Arsenal saw out five minutes of injury time to claim three successive derby wins at Tottenham for the first time since 1988.
(Livescore)
