Arsenal have won three successive Premier League away North London derbies for the first time ever courtesy of a gritty 1-0 victory over a toothless Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite missing a handful of key players through injury and suspension, Mikel Arteta's men put in a quintessentially rock-solid defensive display and earned the local bragging rights once again thanks to a second-half Gabriel Magalhaes, as the hosts' set-piece weaknesses proved costly once more.
A Gunners XI ruing the absences of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice initially struggled to contain a Lilywhites side boosted by Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven, the former of whom engaged in some gripping battles with the visitors' two big centre-backs.
Wasted chances from the hosts allowed Arsenal a slight foothold in the game, but while the goalmouth action was rather limited, there was no shortage of customary derby flashpoints, including one big fracas after a Jurrien Timber challenge on Pedro Porro.
The Dutchman managed to escape with a booking, one of a staggering seven cautions that card-happy referee Jarred Gillett dished out in the first half, as the derby threatened to rival the record-breaking 14 yellows shared by Bournemouth and Chelsea on Saturday night.
Seven cautions already marked the joint-most in the first half of a Premier League game - as former Arsenal man Paul Merson put it, Gillett was handing out bookings "like ice creams" - and a succession of failed set-pieces did neither side any favours too.
However, after scoring two of their three goals at this ground from corners last season, Arsenal produced another Nicolas Jover special just after the hour mark, when Gabriel headed in Bukayo Saka's perfect corner in front of a delirious away end.
Both before and after Gabriel's 15th Premier League goal, it was all bark and no bite as far as Tottenham were concerned in the final third, as Arsenal surged up to second place ahead of what will already be a top-of-the-table showdown against Manchester City in eight days' time.
As for their crestfallen rivals in white, Ange Postecoglou's side continue to languish in an unlucky 13th place, and questions will continue to be asked about Tottenham's increasingly worrying lack of killer instinct.
TOTTENHAM VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Gabriel Magalhaes goal vs. Tottenham (64th min, Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal)
Gabriel opens the scoring in the derby for Arsenal! 💥 pic.twitter.com/AHd09uxOUW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 15, 2024
Breakthrough for the men in black! After so many fluffed set-pieces and corner routines in the first half, it is dead-ball deja vu for both sides at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it is far too easy for Arsenal in front of the away end.
Saka whips in a sublime inswinging corner right into the corridor of uncertainty, where Gabriel frees himself of Cristian Romero's clutches and directs a bullet header over the futile outstretched arm of Guglielmo Vicario.
The Italian decided against coming out to meet the delivery when it was arguably there to be won, and he is punished. Arsenal remain the set-piece kings, Spurs remain as frail as ever from such situations.
MAN OF THE MATCH - GABRIEL MAGALHAES
© Imago
Good luck finding a more passionate celebration than Gabriel's for the rest of the month, and potentially the rest of the Premier League season, as the South American powerhouse flaunted his set-piece prowess once more for Premier League goal number 15.
Not only a formidable presence in the Tottenham box, Gabriel was near-faultless defensively, putting in seven clearances, two blocks and two tackles to preserve an incredibly hard-fought three points and clean sheet for the visitors.
TOTTENHAM VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 63%-37% Arsenal
Shots: Tottenham 15-7 Arsenal
Shots on target: Tottenham 5-4 Arsenal
Corners: Tottenham 7-6 Arsenal
Fouls: Tottenham 13-10 Arsenal
BEST STATS
FT: Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) September 15, 2024
The Gunners have won three consecutive away north London derbies for the first time since September 1988. 👏#TOTARS | @bet365 | #Ad pic.twitter.com/lyapaO2mc2
7 - There were seven yellows cards in the first half of today's north London derby (5 Tottenham, 2 Arsenal), the joint-most cards ever shown in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match. Feisty. pic.twitter.com/Mdts1R8JYH
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2024
3 - Three of Arsenal's last four Premier League goals against rivals Tottenham have been from corners - only three of their previous 88 north London derby league goals had been from corners before this. Jover. pic.twitter.com/BUQ7wFeiaN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Both teams have midweek commitments to fulfil before returning to Premier League action, as Spurs head to Coventry City for Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round clash, the day before Arsenal begin their Champions League campaign away to Atalanta BC.
Postecoglou's side then have another London derby on their agenda, hosting Brentford next Saturday, while the Gunners face possibly their most difficult challenge of the season on Sunday, away to Manchester City.
Ben Knapton
