Arsenal do it the hard way
Arsenal moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a hard-fought victory over Tottenham in the north London derby at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, who have played a game more than Liverpool, were desperate to return to winning ways after losing at home to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and then bowing out to Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup third round.
Arsenal suffered an early setback when, totally against the run of play, Son Heung-min’s shot deflected off William Saliba past keeper David Raya after 25 minutes.
The response came from a familiar route: Gabriel rose to meet Declan Rice’s corner at the far post five minutes before the interval after Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky failed to collect the ball, with the last touch coming off Dominic Solanke for an own goal. Arsenal were ahead just 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. They nearly paid for it when Pedro Porro struck the outside of the post from a tight angle in the dying moments.
Arsenal’s fans and their manager reacted with a mix of relief and celebration when the final whistle sounded. Despite securing the vital victory that keeps them firmly in the title race, Arsenal made this encounter far more difficult than it needed to be.
The sight of Gabriel hurling his shirt into the crowd reflected how significant these three points were after two huge cup disappointments at home. However, familiar flaws in Arsenal’s game made the closing stages unnecessarily tense.
While Arsenal dominated huge portions of the match, their goals came from a set-piece and a shot that Spurs’ goalkeeper should have saved. No one could question Arsenal’s commitment and superiority over a laboring Tottenham, but their lack of a clinical striker continues to haunt them. Groans of frustration echoed around the Emirates as the Gunners often over-elaborated in dangerous areas without delivering a decisive finish.
If Arsenal’s title challenge falters, it will likely be due to their inability to find a reliable striker, especially with Bukayo Saka sidelined after hamstring surgery and Gabriel Jesus ruled out long-term with a serious knee injury. Arteta must make moves in the January transfer window if Arsenal are to maintain a serious pursuit of Liverpool.
Tough night for Spurs keeper Kinsky
Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has made an impressive start since joining Spurs in a £12.5m deal from Slavia Prague. He delivered a confident performance on his debut in the EFL Cup semi-final against Liverpool and stood out in Spurs’ victory over National League Tamworth in the FA Cup third round.
However, the north London derby presented a much tougher test for the promising 21-year-old. Faced with Arsenal’s aerial and set-piece threats, Kinsky adopted a strategy of punching corners clear rather than trying to catch the ball in crowded penalty areas. This worked well until just before half-time, when Declan Rice’s corner drifted over his head at the far post, leading to Arsenal’s equalizer from Solanke’s own goal.
Kinsky’s frustration was evident after Trossard’s winner, which he seemed to know he should have handled better. Such moments are part of the learning curve for a young goalkeeper at the elite level. Kinsky has shown plenty of promise, stepping up in the absence of first-choice Guglielmo Vicario and deputy Fraser Forster.
It’s important to note that Spurs’ defeat wasn’t solely down to Kinsky. Tottenham’s attack offered little apart from a brief first-half spell before Son’s goal. Spurs also appeared to have a valid grievance with the corner that led to Arsenal’s equalizer, as the ball seemed to last touch Trossard before going out. Despite Ange Postecoglou introducing James Maddison and Brennan Johnson at halftime in an attempt to spark his side, Spurs failed to make an impact.
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