Arsenal moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners, who have played a game more than Liverpool, were eager to bounce back from a series of disappointing results, including a Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Newcastle United and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United.
The match started on a sour note for Arsenal, as Tottenham took the lead against the run of play in the 25th minute.
Son Heung-min’s long-range shot deflected off William Saliba and past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, giving Spurs a surprising advantage. Despite dominating possession, Arsenal found themselves behind, leaving the home crowd anxious.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side responded swiftly, leveling the score five minutes before halftime. Declan Rice delivered a corner into the box, and Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to meet the ball at the far post.
Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky failed to collect, and the ball ultimately bounced off Dominic Solanke for an own goal, restoring parity.
Arsenal seized the momentum and took the lead just four minutes later. Leandro Trossard fired a low, bobbling shot that beat Kinsky at his near post.
The Spurs keeper’s positioning was questioned as he appeared to be caught off guard by the deflected strike, allowing the Gunners to take a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
The second half saw Arsenal continue to dominate possession, but they struggled to convert chances into goals. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard came close to extending the lead, but Kinsky pulled off a few important saves, keeping Spurs within reach.
Despite the dominance, the Gunners were unable to put the game to bed, leaving the result in doubt until the final whistle.
Tottenham had one last chance to snatch an equalizer in the dying moments of the game when Pedro Porro fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, only to see the ball ricochet off the outside of the post. It was a narrow escape for Arsenal, but they held firm to secure the three points and maintain their title push.
The victory sees Arsenal remain firmly in the race for the Premier League title, with Arteta’s side now only four points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Despite their dominance, the Gunners will need to find a way to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to challenge for the title this season.
For Tottenham, it was another disappointing result in what has been a challenging campaign, with Spurs struggling to maintain consistency. The defeat leaves them in mid-table, as they look to regroup for their next fixture.
Arsenal’s win also provided a timely boost to their confidence ahead of a crucial stretch in the season, with the Gunners aiming to challenge for both domestic and European honors.
