Toby Alderweireld’s late header gave Tottenham victory in a tightly-contested north London derby.
There was an eerie atmosphere behind closed doors in the vast Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but this was still a fiercely-competitive derby in the traditions of this great rivalry as Spurs and Arsenal battle for a place in Europe next season.
Arsenal took the lead after 16 minutes when Alexandre Lacazette’s rising drive flashed past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris but Jose Mourinho’s side were level within three minutes when Son Heung-min took advantage of slack defending by Sead Kolasinac and David Luiz to score with a deft chip.
Both sides had chances to force victory with Ben Davies denied when his 30-yard drive was brilliantly turned on to the bar by Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez in the first half while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also struck the frame of the goal after the break.
Arsenal had the greater share of possession but it was Spurs who struck decisively nine minutes from time when Alderweireld glanced in Son’s corner, securing a win that leaves them in eighth place, two points ahead of the Gunners.
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Spurs show grit to secure vital win
Mourinho was feeling the pressure to produce a big result after recent poor performances – and this will do the trick nicely with victory against Spurs’ greatest rivals.
Spurs may not have had the greater share of possession and territory but they always carried a threat against an Arsenal side that was energetic and positive but looked vulnerable at the back – although keeper Martinez was excellent.
Mourinho’s side dug deep and struck just as the game looked to be heading for stalemate to get three points to keep Spurs right in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.
The result will also lift spirits after the recent loss at Sheffield United and the poor display in the draw at struggling Bournemouth.
For any faults this Spurs side have, and they are nowhere near the effervescent outfit that reached last season’s Champions League final, they still carry serious menace in the shape of Son, who scored one goal and created another, and Harry Kane.
There is still much for Mourinho to do but a win over Arsenal has never done any harm to Tottenham’s morale.
Arsenal pay for old failings
There was much to admire about Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal here but the bottom line is they were undone once more by old failings which their manager will be desperate to cure.
Arsenal were positive, energetic and dangerous, moving the ball quickly and looking to create chances for a potent strike pair of Lacazette and Aubameyang.
And yet it was the defensive frailties that characterise their play that allowed Spurs through the door and to the win.
Lacazette’s brilliant finish gave Arsenal the early advantage but, at a time when Arteta would have been looking for them to consolidate, they quickly ushered Spurs back in when confused defending gave Son the opportunity to chip Martinez for the equaliser.
And when they had enough control to think they would earn at least a point, Arsenal were undone by a routine set piece as Alderweireld glanced in Son’s corner.
It was something of the same old story – although Arteta will surely be aware of what needs fixing when he finally gets down to the serious alterations to the team he inherited.
Man of the match – Son Heung-Min (Spurs)
Spurs still in fight for Europa League – Mourinho
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho: “During the game nobody thought about it, even myself I didn’t, but Arsenal had 48 hours more than us to rest, so it was hard. But it came from their hearts this effort, this battle.
“Even in the last minutes of the game after 2-1, zero problems, everything under control, so we are happy.
“We are happy because we made the fans happy, we are happy because we are still in the fight to win a Europa League position.”
Jose loves playing Arsenal at home – the stats
- Tottenham (W4 D2) have gone unbeaten in six consecutive home league games against Arsenal for the first time since January 1968 (nine games).
- Tottenham’s 2-1 victory against Arsenal was the 10th time either side has come from behind to win this fixture in the Premier League (Tottenham 4, Arsenal 6).
- Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to lose his first north London derby in the Premier League since Bruce Rioch in November 1995.
- Spurs manager Mourinho has never lost a home game against Arsenal, winning six and drawing four of his 10 matches to date.
- Only West Ham (24) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than Arsenal (21).
- Lacazette became the first Arsenal player to score home and away against Spurs in a single Premier League season since Per Mertesacker in 2012-13.
- Son has scored 13 goals in all competitions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, more than any other player (Kane has 12).
- Son is the first Tottenham player to both score and assist in a Premier League game versus Arsenal since Emmanuel Adebayor in February 2012.
What next?
Tottenham visit Newcastle on Wednesday (18:00 BST), while Arsenal host champions Liverpool later that day (20:15).
Line-ups
Tottenham
Substitutes
Arsenal
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Arsenal 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Arsenal 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Erik Lamela replaces Son Heung-Min.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Steven Bergwijn.
Foul by Cédric Soares (Arsenal).
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by David Luiz.
Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Booking
Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Joseph Willock (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur).
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Bukayo Saka.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Reiss Nelson replaces Sead Kolasinac.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Cédric Soares replaces Héctor Bellerín.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Joseph Willock replaces Kieran Tierney.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp replaces Giovani Lo Celso.
Attempt missed. Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Steven Bergwijn.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Son Heung-Min.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Steven Bergwijn replaces Lucas Moura.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Arsenal 1. Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Son Heung-Min with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lucas Moura.
Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).
Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ben Davies.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.
Attempt saved. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Ceballos.
Booking
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur).
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur).
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).
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