One goalkeeper had a blinder. The other had a stinker. In the end, it is what decided the North London Derby as Arsenal came away with a brilliant 2-0 win that extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has come in for criticism recently and he did himself no favours with Arsenal’s shambolic opener. Thomas Partey, who was fortunate to escape a yellow card earlier, played a lovely ball to the right wing to Bukayo Saka. He found some space and got a deflected cross towards goal, and somehow Lloris floundered at the ball and turned it into his own net.
In the first half, Mikel Arteta’s side were utterly dominant. Spurs simply couldn’t get near them and with every touch they exerted their superiority. They looked every bit like table toppers as the completely dismantled Spurs, who quickly had the crowd on their back as they were penned in.
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Saka was superb throughout. Antonio Conte’s men simply couldn’t deal with him on that right wing and Arsenal found him every time they could as he tore Ryan Sesssegnon apart on several occasions. Defensively they were being exposed but Sessegnon did play in Heung-min Son who saw his effort saved in a rare foray forward for the home side.
The task facing them was huge once they’d conceded the first goal. Arsenal have won 12 and drawn once when scoring first this season and that was their first goal at Spurs since July 2020.
But Arsenal just kept on coming. Martin Odegaard struck one towards goal but Lloris did well to get down and save before Thomas Partey thumped a volley against the upright. They would get their second however as Odegaard found space in the middle of the park and the captain this time made no mistake as he picked out the bottom corner.
Spurs have won 14 points from losing positions this season, more than any other side in the Premier League and they certainly started like they meant business in the second half. Ramsdale denied Kane, before stopping Sessegnon’s low effort with his left foot. The England man was on top form and stayed composed at a ground where he conceded three goals in that heavy defeat last season.
Even when Spurs piled on the pressure late on he was there to stop their momentum. He took his time with goal kicks and came for crosses to take the pressure off his defence, as they stood firm.
To Lloris’ credit, he made a smart save from Eddie Nketiah when his side could have been humiliated at home, but it wasn’t enough. Ramsdale was perfect in everything he did, while Lloris had a howler when the game was in the balance at the start of the night.
Ultimately, their individual performances played a huge role in the result. And it’s a huge result for Arsenal who will now turn their attention to an in-form Manchester United side. Eight points clear of Man City, nine points clear of Man Utd. We aren’t yet at the halfway point, but the Gunners are getting better and better.
