Arsenal mount comeback to down Tottenham in north London derby to nudge Spurs into relegation trouble
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Arsenal breathed fresh life into their Premier League title chase with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Tottenham in Wednesday's north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, who entered the match following consecutive home cup defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United, fell behind when Son Heung-min struck in the 25th minute.
But Mikel Arteta's side turned the game around before half-time through a Dominic Solanke own goal and Leandro Trossard's decisive strike.
The victory moves Arsenal within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Leandro Trossard scored the winner with a fine effort to give Arsenal all three points
Reuters
For Tottenham, the defeat marked their fourth loss in five league matches, leaving them languishing in 13th place.
Only the bottom-three clubs in the Premier League have lost more games than Spurs this season, who are now closer to the relegation zone than a European spot.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges with high-tempo pressing, forcing Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky into early errors.
Despite Arsenal's control, it was Tottenham who struck first when Son guided a side-footed volley that deflected off William Saliba and through Thomas Partey's legs into the net.
The hosts levelled five minutes before the break when Declan Rice's corner found Gabriel at the back post, whose header deflected in off Solanke for an own goal.
Spurs were aggrieved as replays showed the corner should have been a goal kick, with Trossard's cross clearly coming off himself last.
Four minutes later, Arsenal completed the turnaround when Partey won possession and Odegaard found Trossard, who drove forward before beating Kinsky with a powerful strike.
Arsenal had numerous opportunities to extend their lead after the break, with Kai Havertz particularly wasteful in front of goal.
The German forward headed one clear chance wide and directed another straight at Kinsky.
Raheem Sterling and Trossard also squandered decent openings as the hosts pushed to kill off the game.
Martin Odegaard should have sealed victory with six minutes remaining after being picked out by Kieran Tierney, but the Arsenal captain inexplicably missed the target from close range.
Gabriel's header rebounded off Dominic Solanke to give Arsenal the equaliser
Reuters
Tottenham nearly snatched a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time when Pedro Porro's effort struck the post with David Raya beaten.
The visitors had introduced James Maddison and Brennan Johnson at half-time in search of a comeback, but Arsenal held firm to secure the derby triumph.
The victory marked Arsenal's third consecutive Premier League derby win over Tottenham for the first time in 25 years, underlining their recent dominance in this fixture.
Arsenal have now won seven and drawn one of their last eight league encounters with their north London rivals.
The result keeps Arsenal firmly in the title race, though Liverpool retain a game in hand over Arteta's side.
Heung-min Son scored the opener for Tottenham
Reuters
The win was particularly crucial for Arsenal following a difficult week that saw them exit both domestic cups, losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and suffering FA Cup elimination against Manchester United.
The Emirates crowd responded to Arteta's pre-match call for "the greatest atmosphere the stadium had ever seen" with a raucous welcome that set the tone for a pulsating derby victory.
Tottenham's defeat continues their concerning run of form, with the club now sitting 13th in the Premier League table, just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Ange Postecoglou's side have won just once in their last nine Premier League outings, highlighting their dramatic dip in form since a promising start to the season.
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Mikel Arteta was in need of a victory at Arsenal
Reuters
The Australian manager attempted to change the game's momentum by introducing James Maddison and Brennan Johnson at half-time, removing Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma.
The tactical shift left Lucas Bergvall operating almost as a lone midfielder at times, as Spurs pushed for an equaliser.
Despite their attacking changes, Tottenham struggled to create clear opportunities, with their best chance coming from Porro's late strike against the post.
The defeat raises further questions about Tottenham's consistency, coming after they needed extra time to overcome fifth-tier Tamworth in the FA Cup.
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