Arsenal have moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool thanks to a 2-1 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur in a typically pulsating North London derby at the Emirates.
Gooners experienced a disheartening sense of deja vu inside the opening 25 minutes, where Mikel Arteta's men were in the ascendancy but failed to truly test Antonin Kinsky, and Son Heung-min duly punished them.
However, the South Korean's volley triggered an immediate response from the hosts, who levelled in controversial circumstances through a Dominic Solanke own goal before Leandro Trossard blasted the Gunners ahead on the stroke of the break.
Ange Postecoglou responded by throwing caution to the wind - bringing on James Maddison and Brennan Johnson for Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma - but it was always Arsenal who looked the more likely to score again.
The hosts' profligacy reared its ugly head again as they ultimately declared at two, but Tottenham were even more toothless in attack and have now failed to win any of their last five Premier League games, remaining in an unlucky 13th place as a result.
Meanwhile, the overjoyed Gunners rise back above Nottingham Forest into second position in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Liverpool, but the Reds still have that coveted game in hand.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Believe it or not, Arsenal had never beaten Spurs three times in a row in the Premier League before Wednesday's absorbing affair - the last time they did so in the top flight was back in 1989 - but that hoodoo has been deservedly banished.
Even though Tottenham travelled across the city on the back of consecutive wins while Arsenal had lost their previous knockout matches, form goes out of the window in such significant battles - as Gunners legend Ray Parlour stressed to us pre-match - and Arteta's men could not have been more up for the derby.
However, it would not have been a 2024-25 Arsenal display without some dominance from the men in red and white not being capitalised on, but Son's slick volley was the catalyst for a magnificent first-half turnaround, albeit one sparked by that controversial corner.
As Tottenham continued to concede possession in dangerous areas, Arteta's men could and should have punished their visitors further, but the likes of Kai Havertz, Odegaard and Raheem Sterling once again left their shooting boots at the training ground.
The need for a new attacker has never been so apparent, but Arsenal were fortunate that Tottenham's attacking play was even more blunt. While the Gunners chase down Liverpool at the top, their bitter rivals might just start looking over their shoulder.
If Manchester United - who are only one point worse off with a game in hand - have been mentioned in relegation conversations, should Spurs also be fearing a demotion dogfight?
ARSENAL VS. TOTTENHAM HIGHLIGHTS
Son Heung-min goal vs. Arsenal (25th min, Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham)
SON GIVES TOTTENHAM THE LEAD AT THE EMIRATES 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
It's his 9th goal against Arsenal as a Tottenham player 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Y2AXPrzzHS
I think that is what they call against the run of play.
The hosts have been swarming over Spurs since the start, but the visitors serve up a Son-sized sucker punch, as the Lilywhites captain executes a brilliant deft volley from just inside the box after Arsenal failed to properly deal with a corner.
A deflection off of William Saliba did not help matters for David Raya, but Son could hardly care less as he tells the silenced Emirates crowd to pipe down.
Gabriel Magalhaes goal vs. Tottenham (40th min, Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham)
A deflection from Dominic Solanke following a Gabriel header means Arsenal have equalised in the North London Derby 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jmta7hfZU4
The Nicolas Jover special works its magic once again, but Tottenham have every right to feel incensed! Simon Hooper awards Arsenal a corner in front of the away end, but Trossard appeared to get the last touch rather than Pedro Porro.
Arsenal ensure that their stroke of luck is not wasted, as Declan Rice's quintessential perfect delivery to the back stick is met by Gabriel, who outmuscles Radu Dragusin and heads in the leveller via a deflection off of Solanke.
Leandro Trossard goal vs. Tottenham (44th min, Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham)
That didn't take long!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead four minutes after they equalised 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ixqtOGhRf0
Trossard was involved in a contentious moment for Arsenal's equaliser, but there is nothing questionable about this fine hit from the Belgian!
Thomas Partey puts in a brilliant challenge on Bissouma to set Martin Odegaard away, and the captain picks out Trossard's run on the left flank with a crisp outside-of-the-boot pass.
Dragusin opts against closing down the angle, Sarr cannot get back in time, and the Arsenal man unleashes a terrific low strike which nestles into the far corner via Antonin Kinsky's glove.
The Spurs shot-stopper plants his face into the ground straight away; he knows he should have done better with that one.
MAN OF THE MATCH - GABRIEL MAGALHAES
© Imago
He may not go home with another goal next to his name, but Gabriel Magalhaes could not help but haunt Tottenham again, producing his signature feint and run to the back post to register yet another set-piece goal.
That pivotal header was one of three aerial duels that Gabriel won from three such battles, while he also put in three blocks and completed 89% of his passes, before breaking out into song and dance during the post-match pandemonium.
However, we cannot end this section without mentioning 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who could not have been more composed in his hybrid left-back role and evidently relished the occasion, firing up the crowd as he made his way off.
ARSENAL VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 53%-47% Tottenham
Shots: Arsenal 14-10 Tottenham
Shots on target: Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham
Corners: Arsenal 10-4 Tottenham
Fouls: Arsenal 16-9 Tottenham
BEST STATS
For the first time in the competition's history, three players aged 18 or under will start a Premier League North London Derby.
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 15, 2025
🔴 Myles Lewis-Skelly
⚪️ Archie Gray
⚪️ Lucas Bergvall
The future is now. 💪 pic.twitter.com/8ibXVE9IsM
4 - Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored four goals from corners against Tottenham in the Premier League; the most any team has netted against an opponent in this period. Orchestrated. pic.twitter.com/5JmVBamuoV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 15, 2025
8 - Son Heung-Min has now scored eight Premier League goals against Arsenal, with only former Spurs teammate Harry Kane (14) ever netting more in North London derbies in the competition. Duo. pic.twitter.com/PzMjCaF18C
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 15, 2025
Leandro Trossard (42) has now scored more Premier League goals than Mikel Arteta (41) 👀 pic.twitter.com/2kr2CEoZVd
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season, Arsenal endeavour to keep that sequence going against Unai Emery's Aston Villa on Saturday, seeking revenge for last season's crushing Emirates loss.
Meanwhile, Spurs will head to David Moyes's Everton on Sunday afternoon on the hunt for their first Premier League win since mid-December.
Ben Knapton
