Arsenal bag North London bragging rights and close gap to Liverpool

BIG PRESENCE: Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates following victory. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.

Premier League: Arsenal 2 (Gabriel 40, Trossard 44) Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Son 25) 

“NORTH LONDON FOREVER” rang round the Emirates stadium after Arsenal closed the gap on Liverpool and returned to second place after coming from behind to win a fierce derby over Spurs.

Two goals in four minutes before half-time from Gabriel and Leandro Trossard allowed the Gunners to turn around a thrilling game after Tottenham had taken the lead through Heung Min Son.

It was high-octane stuff, and just what Mikel Arteta needed after two successive home defeats by Newcastle and Manchester United in the cups, and no less than they deserved for a dominant display, though they once again failed to make the most of their abundant chances and left their nervous fans chewing their fingernails up to the final whistle.

Arsenal are now four points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and Arteta's men restored a huge amount of pride by bagging bragging rights in north London once again.

Arteta made four changes from the team that lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey returning to midfield, while Raheem Sterling and Leandro in a forward line that has been subject of much anguish among Arsenal fans for its lack of clinical finishing.

Gabriel Jesus has joined Bukayo Saka on the long-term injured list, leading fans to ask why the club are not bending over backwards to sign a proven number nine, having failed to secure Alexander Isak's services last summer.

And the early stages looked like confirming the same fears as Arsenal went full-gun at the patched-up Tottenham backline without really threatening to score until shortly before half-time.

The opening 20 minutes was one-way traffic as a pumped up Arsenal set about Spurs feverishly, keeping the visitors camped in their own half. 

Sterling had a half-hearted half-hearted half-volley blocked in front of goal, and rookie keeper Antonin Kinsky had to punch a succession of crosses from set-pieces, but had few actual saves to make. 

Indeed the young Czech, who has only been at the club less than a fortnight, caused himself problems by dawdling on the ball more than once. The first time, Kai Havertz nicked it off him but Kinsky recovered by falling on the ball, and then he was baled out by quick-thinking from Yves Bissouma.

Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly (left) and Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson battle for the ball. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.

Having withstood intense pressure for 20 minutes without breaking forward, Tottenham then could have scored three times in five minutes. From their first attack of the game, David Raya had to react quickly to tip away a flick from Dominic Solanke after Djed Spence's run and cross. Minutes later, Raya made an even better save to deny Dejan Kulusevski at close range. 

But the keeper had little chance in the 25th minute when Son scored. Pedro Porro crossed following a short corner on the right, the ball was headed out to Son on the edge of the area, and the Korean's volley took a deflection off William Saliba before flying past Raya.

Arsenal were stunned and lost their rhythm while Spurs started to go forward with more confidence. So it was a touch of luck – or poor officiating – that allowed the Gunners to equalise. Porro tackled Trossard in the byline, and the Belgian forward seemed to have the last touch before the ball went out of play. 

Referee Simon Hooper, however, awarded a corner to Arsenal, and when Declan Rice swung the ball in from the left, Gabriel made a clever run past Radu Dragusin and powered his header inside the far post from a tight angle.

Arsenal fans erupted in delight, and within four minutes they were singing again as Trossard put them ahead. Bissouma lost possession in midfield, the ball was shuttled out to Trossard on the left and the Belgian advanced before hitting a low left-foot shot into the far corner of goal. 

Kinsky could have done better, perhaps, allowing Trossard's bobbling shot to bounce over his oustretched hand, but Arsenal fans did not care, having finally gone ahead.

Ange Postecoglou made two changes at half-time, sending on James Maddison and Brennan Johnson for Bissouma and Pape Sarr, who had been booked. The substitutes combined to create a chance, but Maddison's shot lacked the power to trouble Raya. 

Havertz missed a couple more, too, putting one header wide from a corner and then heading the ball straight into the arms of Kinsky, who continued to cause panic with some over-elaborate footwork. 

Raya gave the ball away, too, leading to a Solanke shot that was blocked in front of goal.

Rice had a chance to make it 3-1 in the 73rd minute after a driving run, but his shot was straight at Kinsky, who held a feeble follow-up effort from Martin Odegaard. 

The Norwegian went closer five minutes from time with a shot on the turn that hit the outside of Kinsky's left-had post.

It was end-to-end stuff, with both sides going all out, and Gabriel made a brilliant interception to keep out Solanke, who also put an overhead shot wide.

Arsenal hearts were in their mouths in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Porro hit an angled shot against Raya's near post, but the Gunners held on, and it was their supporters singing “North London Forever” on the final whistle.

ARSENAL 4-3-3: Raya 7; Timber 7, Saliba 8, Gabriel 9, Lewis-Skelly 7 (Zinchenko 87); Partey 6, Odegaard 8, Rice 7 (Merino 87); Sterling 5 (Martinelli 61), Havertz 6, Trossard 7 (Tierney 77).

TOTTENHAM 4-3-3: Kinsky 6; Porro 7, Dragusin 7, Gray 8, Spence 7; Sarr 6 (Johnson 46), Bissouma 6 (Maddison 46), Bergvall 8; Kulusevski 7, Solanke 6, Son 7 (Richarlison 78).

Referee: Simon Hooper 6/10