Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham (Partey 20′, G. Jesus 49′, Xhaka 67′) | (Kane (PK) 31′)
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White (Tomiyasu 89′), Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tierney 73′); Partey (Lokonga 73′), Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard (F. Vieira 80′), Martinelli; Jesus (Nketiah 80′)
I had previewed the North London Derby yesterday and touched on Gabriel Jesus’ comments regarding what was labelled as a very important match for everyone connected with Arsenal. The old enemy had arrived in town, basking in the confidence of still being unbeaten in the Premier League, and also hoping to latch unto their counter attacking style, which proved to be Arsenal’s undoing in their recent defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Tottenham lined up in the same way you’d expect from Antonio Conte’s teams with three at the back, two wing backs, two dogged central midfielders and a three-pronged attack led by the North London Derby’s top scorer, and pretty much the scourge of Arsenal, Harry Kane. However, it was the home side that began on the ascendancy, with Gabriel Martinelli drilling a goal-bound shot that clipped the post before missing the mark. Despite being on the back foot, Tottenham almost took the lead when Richarlison was clean on goal and didn’t really connect well with his shot but Aaron Ramsdale was on hand to make a great save.
The Gunners took the lead and sent the fans to delirium following some brilliant play on the right. Bukayo Saka connected well with Ben White whose cushioned ball to Thomas Partey was curled first time, leaving Hugo Lloris with no chance in Hell to execute a save.
Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, confirmed after the game that Partey’s strike was planned,
“It was a great goal. We knew before the game he was going to be free in those areas and we practised that a lot, to find him in those areas, and he made a great shot.
“I think he played a great game as well so a lot of credit to him, and of course the team.”
What makes that goal more exciting was the fact that there were 21 passes in the build-up to Partey’s strike, which is the joint-most leading to a goal in the Premier League this season after Fabio Vieira’s strike against Brentford.
The home side’s joy was short lived as Tottenham grabbed an equalizer following yet another error from Gabriel Magalhaes. A through ball in behind the defense putting the Gunners backline in sixes and sevens, and it seemed like they had handled the threat, but a poor clearance brought the ball to Richarlison’s path who guided the ball well in the box before he was scythed down by Gabriel. The ref didn’t need to consult VAR as he pointed to the spot and up stepped Harry Kane.
There are some certainties in this life – death, taxes, and Harry Kane scoring in the North London Derby, and he didn’t disappoint, firing down the middle as Ramsdale moved to his right hand side.
Tottenham’s equalizer certainly rocked their hosts and both teams went into the break on a stalemate, with the hopes of controlling the game in the second half. Prior to the ref’s whistle, Kane nodded the ball straight at Ramsdale, while Gabriel Jesus went on a slalom run in the box, leaving some defenders for dead with his silky dribbling skills before firing a shot that was smothered by Lloris.
Arsenal began the second 45 minutes like a house on fire and grabbed a well deserved lead when Saka found a sweet spot in the box and fired a shot that was parried by Lloris to his defender, Cristian Romero’s path. The Argentine unleashed his inner Skhodran Mustafi, dallying on the ball, and in a comical moment, the ball squirmed under Lloris, with the predatory Jesus on hand to smash in his fifth goal of the season to an unguarded net. They all can’t be curlers or headers, and from the rapturous celebrations of the crowd, they certainly didn’t care.
Jesus had the chance to put the game beyond doubt when he connected with an Oleksandr Zinchenko cross, but his header was far off the mark. He also suffered an injury as he landed awkwardly, but thankfully he shrugged it off. Arsenal’s chances of winning the game received a timely boost when Tottenham’s Emerson Royal received his marching orders for a nasty tackle on Gabriel Martinelli. It didn’t look malicious on first viewing but the VAR replays showed how high the Brazilian defender’s boot was, so the sending off was well deserved.
It was quite ironic, as Martinelli, free off the shackles of Emerson Royal, played a part in the goal that put the game beyond doubt.
The left winger drifted into the opposition area and was robbed off the ball by Granit Xhaka that wasted no time in smashing in a surface-to-goal piledriver past Lloris to make it 3-1. That goal was the final nail in the Tottenham coffin, tearing up their unbeaten run and solidifying Arsenal’s status as the top team in the land this week, irrespective of what happens in the Manchester Derby today.
Arteta waxed lyrical for his players following the game and touched on the atmosphere the fans have created this season. There is a very special connection between the fans and the players this campaign, and it has spurred the lads on to put amazing performances week in, week out.
This win puts Arsenal on 21 points, four clear of Manchester City, and we the “neutrals” are hoping that the Manager of the Month for September, Erik Ten Hag, will show up with his boys and do the business at the Etihad. Any result beyond a Manchester City win will be good for world peace.
Next up is Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday and these hardworking lads can get a breather before the visit of Liverpool next week Sunday. More on that as the week progresses but at this point in time, it is safe to say that…
North London is Red, so is the Premier League.
Sayonara.
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