Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal: To increase championship prospects, the Gunners stave off a late comeback

After overcoming a late scare to win 3-2 over rivals Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby, Arsenal moved four points ahead atop the Premier League standings.

Thanks to a header by Kai Havertz, a shot by Bukayo Saka, and an own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the Gunners led 3-0 at the break.

However, when David Raya’s mistake was punished by Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min scored another penalty, it seemed as if a second-half collapse was imminent. But in the end, the Gunners managed to hold on.

At least for a little while, Arsenal maintained their lead over second-place Manchester City, who face Nottingham Forest in their first of two remaining games on Sunday. Tottenham, in fifth place, is still seven points outside the top four.

After fifteen minutes, Hojbjerg unintentionally headed Saka’s inswinging corner beyond Guglielmo Vicario at his near post, giving the Gunners a breakthrough.

Spurs hit back, and Micky van de Ven thought he had leveled when Romero headed against the post and slotted home from close range. But after a VAR review, it was decided that the defender was offside, and the goal was reversed.

In the 27th minute, Havertz initiated a quick counterattack, allowing Saka to cut inside and score past Vicario to increase Arsenal’s advantage.

Just before halftime, Havertz also got in on the action, headed Declan Rice’s corner home from inside the six-yard line.

However, following the interval, Spurs were given a lifeline by Raya’s mistake, as Romero took advantage of the goalkeeper’s careless clearance to cut the hosts’ deficit.

When a VAR assessment revealed Spurs should have been given a penalty for Rice’s tackle on Ben Davies late in the game, things became even more complicated for the Gunners.

Son scored a spectacular spot-kick into the left-hand corner, but the Gunners eventually prevailed as a late Spurs assault was ultimately in vain.

Saka is radiant under the spotlight at Derby.

Arsenal is still very much in the running for the Premier League championship, even if Man City has the upper hand after winning the London derby twice this week.

The team led by Mikel Arteta thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday. Since losing to Aston Villa two weeks before, they have recovered remarkably, scoring ten goals in three games and giving up only two goals.

Saka became the first English player to score goals for Arsenal both at home and away against Tottenham in a single season since Ian Wright 30 years ago (1993–94) when his corner set up the first goal. Saka then extended the advantage with his 15th league goal of the season, his highest in a single campaign.

Havertz’s header for the Gunners’ 16th goal from a corner this season—the most in a single campaign since West Bromwich Albion in 2016–17—essentially finished the job, though Arteta must have been worried by their near-miss at the end.

Spurs’ domestic difficulties are still ongoing.

Tottenham lost back-to-back home league games against Arsenal for the first time since 1988 as a result of the 195th North London Derby.

It was always going to be tough to turn things around against the team that has now won all 16 games this season while leading at halftime, even with their best efforts in the second half.

They have now lost their last four games against their opponents and have only experienced victory once in their last five at home against the Gunners.

Arsenal will hope that when they visit Tottenham on May 14, they can hurt City’s prospects rather than undermine their own championship aspirations, which are undeniable by their opponents.