Arsenal claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham in a thrilling north London derby at the Emirates.
The match started as many hoped, with Arsenal asserting their dominance from the opening whistle.
Spurs struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity, with Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard causing constant problems. But despite Arsenal’s initial pressure and a series of corners, it was Tottenham who struck first.
In the 25th minute, Heung-Min Son opened the scoring. After a failed Arsenal clearance, the Spurs captain pounced on the loose ball and fired a deflected shot which wrong-footed goalkeeper David Raya.
It was Son’s sixth league goal this season and a reminder of his clinical edge in big games.
But this advance was short-lived. Arsenal equalized just 15 minutes later with a scrappy effort following a free kick.
Gabriel rose highest to meet Odegaard’s corner, and his header ricocheted off Dominic Solanke and into the back of the net for an own goal.
Full time. pic.twitter.com/7aoQM1Kizo
– Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 15, 2025
The Emirates broke out and the momentum swung in favor of the Gunners.
Moments later, Arsenal completed the turnaround. A quick counter-attack saw Odegaard spot Trossard with a perfectly weighted pass down the left flank.
The Belgian burst into the box and fired a low, powerful shot past young Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky into the bottom corner.
The second half saw Tottenham make offensive changes, introducing James Maddison and Brennan Johnson in a bid to get back into the game.
Although they enjoyed more possession as the match progressed, Spurs struggled to create clear chances.
Their best chance came in stoppage time when Pedro Porro’s thunderous shot from a tight angle hit the outside of the post in the dying seconds.
Arsenal remained dangerous on the counter-attack and forced Kinsky to make some impressive saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Mikel Arteta’s side handled the closing stages expertly, with experienced substitutes Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mikel Merino adding control.
The final whistle confirmed three vital points for the Gunners, who move to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
For Spurs, it was another frustrating outing at the Emirates. Ange Postecoglou’s side showed glimmers of promise but were ultimately undone by defensive errors and a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
