Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to just four points with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, having played one more game than Liverpool, were eager to bounce back after recent setbacks, including a loss to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final and a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
The match began with Arsenal on the front foot, dominating possession and creating several chances. However, Tottenham took the lead completely against the run of play in the 25th minute when Son Heung-min’s shot was deflected off William Saliba and into the net, leaving goalkeeper David Raya stranded.
Arsenal’s response was swift and effective. Just five minutes before halftime, the Gunners equalized from a corner. Declan Rice’s delivery was met by Gabriel, who rose to head the ball towards goal. Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky failed to gather the ball, and it was diverted into the net by Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke for an unfortunate own goal.
In the second half, Arsenal continued to press, dominating possession and looking for a winner. Despite Tottenham’s attempts to break the deadlock, the Gunners held firm, and the match ended 2-1, sending Arsenal fans into raptures.
With this win, Arsenal moved to within four points of Liverpool, who remain at the top of the Premier League. However, with one more game played, Arsenal will be hopeful of keeping the pressure on as the season progresses. The victory also marked a much-needed morale boost for the team following their recent cup disappointments.
Arsenal’s manager praised the team’s character in coming back from the early setback and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Arsenal were ahead four minutes later when Leandro Trossard’s bobbling low shot beat Kinsky, who should have done much better.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the second half, but once again lacked the cutting edge to completely put the game to bed.
And although they closed out the win to keep themselves firmly in the title race, they were almost caught right at the end when Pedro Porro hit the outside of the post from a tight angle.
