Arsenal clinched a narrow victory over Tottenham Hotspur in an explosive London Derby at the Emirates Stadium, triumphing 2-1 in a match packed with drama and intensity.
The visitors struck first in the 25th minute when Heung-Min Son’s deflected effort found the back of the net, leaving Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya stranded.
Spurs looked confident early on, with Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski testing Arsenal’s defence.
However, Arsenal responded in the 40th minute when Solanke inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, levelling the score.
The Emirates roared to life in the 44th minute as Leandro Trossard delivered a moment of brilliance. Receiving a precise pass from Martin Odegaard, Trossard wove past his marker and unleashed a ferocious strike into the bottom right corner, giving Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into half-time.
The second half saw both teams push for control. Tottenham introduced James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, while Arsenal brought on Gabriel Martinelli and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Arsenal’s defence, marshalled by Gabriel Magalhães, held firm against a series of Tottenham attacks, with Pedro Porro’s late effort clanging off the post in the dying moments of the match.
Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made several crucial saves to keep Spurs in contention, denying Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
However, Arsenal’s determination and defensive resilience ensured their rivals could not find an equaliser.
The match was not without its controversies. Referee Simon Hooper was kept busy, issuing yellow cards to Kai Havertz, Gabriel, and Myles Lewis-Skelly for robust challenges. Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr also saw yellow for a heavy tackle early in the first half.
With an attendance of 60,287 fans adding to the electric atmosphere, the game encapsulated the fierce rivalry between these two Premier League giants.
The victory sees Arsenal edge closer to the top of the table, while Spurs will look to regroup and bounce back in their next fixture.