Premier League: Arsenal overcome Tottenham 3-2 in North London derby
Arsenal are well placed in their fight for the 2023-24 Premier League title after beating arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a pulsating North London derby on Sunday. A solid first half saw the Gunners take a 3-0 lead as Tottenham had a goal ruled out for offside in between. The hosts pulled two goals back in the second half but it wasn't enough.
Arsenal race to 80 points after 35 matches
Arsenal are top after 35 matches with 80 points. They secured their 25th win of the season (D5 L5). Arsenal have scored 85 goals and hold a goal difference of +57. Manchester City are second with 76 points after 33 matches (GD +48). Liverpool are third with 75 points from 35 matches. City can go back atop if they win their games in hand.
15 Premier League goals for Saka this season
Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal's second goal from a Kai Havertz assist. The England youngster has raced to 46 goals (A35) from 168 Premier League appearances, including 15 this season (A9). Overall, Saka has 19 goals and 13 assists for Arsenal in all competitions this season. In 227 matches, Saka has raced to 57 goals for the Gunners.
Havertz and Rice have been top signings for Arsenal
Havertz made an assist before scoring Arsenal's third goal. In his debut season for Arsenal, the German international owns 12 goals and six assists in the Premier League. Overall, the former Chelsea forward made his 125th Premier League appearance. He has 31 goals (A13). Midfielder Declan Rice assisted Havertz's goal. He has six goals and seven assists this season in the Premier League.
A look at the match stats
Arsenal made nine attempts with three shots on target. Spurs had two shots on target from 14 attempts. Spurs had more ball possession (63%) and an 89% pass accuracy. Spurs had 36 touches in Arsenal's box.
Arsenal were 3-0 up at half-time
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg glanced Saka's corner into his own net to hand Arsenal the lead. Spurs saw Micky van de Ven's goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. Minutes later, Saka was brilliant in a swift counter-attack and scored the second. Havertz headed in Arsenal's third as the visitors were 3-0 at half-time. Notably, Spurs had their moments and looked the better team.
Tottenham offer fight in the second half
Tottenham scored through Christian Romero when David Raya saw his pass go straight to Romero at the edge of the box. Rice conceded a penalty next and Son Heung-min made no mistake from the spot.
Son is involved in 25 Premier League goals this season
Making his 298th Premier League appearance, Son scored his 116th goal (A61). He is now involved in 25 Premier League goals this season (G16 A9).
Massive records for Arsenal
Arsenal have won consecutive top-flight away games against Tottenham for the first time since September 1988. Prior to this, Arsenal had only won two of their previous 17 away games against Spurs in the Premier League (D6 L9). Arsenal have scored 16 goals from corners this season, the most by a team in a single campaign since West Brom (16 in 2016-17).
Tottenham clock this unwanted record
Tottenham are the 16th team to concede 50+ Premier League goals this season (52). As per Opta, this is now the first instance of these many teams to concede 50+ in an English top-flight season consisting of 20 clubs since 1909-10 (17).
Arsenal make these records in North London derby
As per Squawka, Arsenal led an away North London derby 3-0 at half-time for the first time ever in the Premier League. Arsenal's 3-0 lead after 38 minutes is now their quickest ever 3+ goal lead in a Premier League North London derby away match. Saka is the first Englishman to score home and away for Arsenal against Tottenham since Ian Wright in 1993-94.
