Arsenal2 - 1Spurs

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 four 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

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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.

Written by

Ben Knapton