Photo: Collected
Arsenal staged a resilient comeback to defeat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, boosting their Premier League title hopes and extending their unbeaten home run in the derby since 2010.
Mikel Arteta's side entered the match seeking redemption after a disappointing week that saw them eliminated from both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup. Starting the derby seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, the Gunners faced an uphill task when Son Heung-min put Tottenham ahead in the 25th minute.
The South Korean capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire a deflected volley past Aaron Ramsdale, marking his ninth goal in a north London derby a feat surpassed by only three players in the rivalry's history.
Despite Tottenham's early strike, Arsenal found a quick response. In the 40th minute, Gabriel Magalhães outmuscled Radu Dragusin at the far post to meet a Declan Rice corner. His header deflected off Spurs forward Dominic Solanke into the net for an own goal, bringing the hosts level.
Just four minutes later, Leandro Trossard completed the turnaround with a brilliant finish. After Thomas Partey intercepted a loose pass, Martin Ødegaard set up Trossard on the edge of the box. The Belgian's precise left-footed strike found the bottom corner, leaving Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky helpless.
The Emirates erupted in celebration, with Arsenal taking a crucial lead into the interval. The Gunners' record of remaining unbeaten in their last 55 league games when ahead at half-time added an air of confidence for the second half.
Tottenham struggled to regain momentum after the break, failing to register another shot on target. Arsenal, meanwhile, created opportunities to extend their advantage but couldn't convert. Ødegaard came close to sealing the result, narrowly missing the target with a powerful effort.
Spurs' best chance came in stoppage time when Pedro Porro's cross unexpectedly struck the near post, sending a wave of tension through the home crowd. However, Arsenal's defence held firm, with Gabriel delivering a standout performance to keep the visitors at bay.
The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought victory for the Gunners, moving them into second place with 43 points from 21 games four points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand. Tottenham, now winless in five league matches, remain 13th with 24 points.
Speaking after the match, Arteta praised his team's resilience. "We showed immense character to come back from a goal down," he said. "The fans were incredible, and their energy helped push us over the line."
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