Arsenal Shows Title Challenge Is for Real in North London Derby Win
These are heady times for Arsenal. It would have been significant enough that Sunday’s 2–0 victory over Tottenham was its first away in the league in the North London derby since 2014, but in combination with Manchester City’s defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, it took Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the table. There are still 20 games to go, but as the leaders approach the halfway point of the league season, that is a very significant lead.
Concerns remain about the depth of Arsenal’s squad, particularly after it was gazumped by Chelsea for the signing of the Ukrainian wonderkid Mykhailo Mudryk. With Gabriel Jesus probably out for another couple of months, there is a clear lack of options in forward areas. There are reports now of interest in Raphinha, whose move to Barcelona from Leeds has not worked out. Emile Smith Rowe finally made his first appearance of the season in the FA Cup win over Oxford United on Monday after recovering from surgery in his groin, and came off the bench in stoppage time Sunday. He at least adds some cover but, still, it would only take a couple of injuries in key positions for Arsenal to be severely weakened.
The Gunners outlasted Spurs in yet another testy North London derby.
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For as long as Mikel Arteta can put out this side, though, Arsenal can be optimistic. The first half here was almost embarrassingly one-sided, which was partly to do with Arsenal being very good, but also with the shortcomings of this Tottenham. That Spurs remains as high as fifth after a string of slow starts to games is, frankly, mystifying.
Both goals had been signposted well in advance. Hugo Lloris, who for a long time was such a reliable presence, has looked increasingly shaky this season. He had already fluffed one pass out from the back when, 14 minutes in, Bukayo Saka, having spun behind Ryan Sessegnon, wobbled in from the right. His attempted cross deflected off the fullback, which was enough to confound Lloris who, startled, shoveled the ball over his own line.
Martin Ødegaard had drawn a very good save from Lloris and Thomas Partey smacked a volley off the post when a third long-range effort from Ødegaard after 36 minutes brought the second goal. All three efforts were essentially unchallenged in an area that would usually be occupied by Tottenham’s two central midfielders, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Pape Sarr, which suggested a failure if the system. For the goal, the two were drawn into challenges upfield; in itself that, while not ideal, shouldn’t be decisive. But with none of the back three stepping up, Ødegaard had time to measure his shot.
While Arsenal’s trajectory is very clearly upward, Tottenham continues to frustrate. Yet again it improved after the break, but it’s very hard to win games if you keep going 2–0 down. It’s won just three of its last eight games in all competitions and, although there was a major improvement in the second half of last season, there’s little reason to believe there will be something similar this time round. Son Heung-min’s form remains indifferent, there are problems at wingback and Lloris has had a shaky campaign.
For the first half of the second half, Arsenal came under pressure. But it is a feature of this side that it is rather more resilient than recent Arsenal teams. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, in contrast to Lloris, was a beacon of solidity and made one excellent save with an outstretched left foot to deny Sessegnon early in the second half. Once the post-break surge had been resisted, Arsenal was comfortable, managing the game well despite Eddie Nketiah squandering a decent opportunity to make it 3–0.
The frustration of Spurs fans was seen as one appeared to encroach onto the pitch and kick out at Ramsdale as he collected his gloves. Ramsdale reacted with understandable annoyance and, as other players rushed to the incident, Arteta physically dragged some of them away, perhaps mindful not only of the potential for a serious disturbance but also of the fact that Arsenal is facing charges of failing to control its players from each of its last two league fixtures.
Ødegaard’s goal gave Arsenal a comfortable lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
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The structure of this season, with the break for the World Cup, has perhaps played a psychological trick and there is a misleading sense of the title race coming to its run-in already. Arsenal still has 20 games to go; there is plenty of time for major swings yet. But the sense was that the month between this game and the home fixture against Manchester City, which also includes a home game against Manchester United next Sunday, would be a crucial test of Arsenal’s title credentials. A 2–0 away in in the first of those three big games is a pretty good start.
If there was any doubt before, it has surely gone now. Arsenal is a serious challenger for the title. With an eight-point lead over City and nine over United and Newcastle, it may even now be favorite despite the slenderness of its squad.
