Laying down yet one more title marker and claiming north London bragging rights on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal picked up an eye catching 2-0 victory away at bitter native rival Tottenham.
Watching Manchester Metropolis undergo a public late collapse at Outdated Trafford 24 hours previous to kick-off, Mikel Arteta’s high-flying squad knew that that they had as soon as once more been handed a golden alternative.
Placing on what was an actual first-half clinic and helped by yet one more Hugo Lloris howler because the French skipper remarkably parried the ball into his personal internet, it was Martin Odegaard’s thunderous strike that helped Arsenal clinch all three factors.
Together with as soon as once more widening their buffer over Manchester Metropolis, the Gunners additionally handed Tottenham’s top-four desires a serious blow in what may grow to be a vital showdown in Antonio Conte’s tenure.
In what was one other fiery north London battle, we now have taken a take a look at the principle speaking factors following Sunday’s showdown.
Arsenal’s title to lose
After finally lacking out on a Champions League return final season, few throughout Europe would have anticipated what has change into a probably history-making marketing campaign for Arsenal.
Though some might need been pondering if Arteta’s aspect may sustain their pre-World Cup momentum after getting back from the festive interval, the Gunners have solely continued on their astonishing run of type in north London.
Whereas Sunday’s visitors might need been upset after opening 2023 with a 0-0 stalemate at residence in opposition to Newcastle on January third, Arsenal aren’t displaying any indicators of taking their foot off the fuel.
With Manchester Metropolis displaying some prolonged inconsistencies on both aspect of the World Cup break, it’s arduous to argue that Arteta’s high-flying squad are actually firmly sat in pole place to clinch their first Premier League crown since 2004.
Nonetheless struggling only a single top-flight defeat this season and gaining a string of plaudits from throughout the continent, Arteta’s aspect will know that they now face a phycological check throughout the second-half of the marketing campaign.
Odegaard leads Arteta’s younger Gunners
Whereas summer time arrivals Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko might need made an instantaneous influence since arriving in north London, Odegaard’s show on Sunday afternoon solely underlines why he’s Arsenal’s actual talisman this season.
Though many might need been shocked by Arteta’s resolution to nominate the one-time Actual Madrid starlet as Arsenal’s membership captain final yr, Odegaard seems to be relishing his senior function.
With some feeling that the 24-year-old is among the many main contenders to be topped this season’s PFA Participant of the 12 months, the Norwegian worldwide is actually an instrumental a part of Arteta’s plans.
Doubling Arsenal’s first-half lead after producing a thunderous pushed strike, Odegaard was as soon as once more on the coronary heart of all the pieces optimistic that Arsenal produced right here.
Now bagging two Premier League strikes in his final three top-flight appearances and together with his inventory at a red-hot excessive, the Gunners’ attacking gem is firing on all cylinders.
Tottenham’s points on residence soil proceed
Whereas Tottenham might need managed to say a much-needed 4-0 romp away at Crystal Palace on January 4th, it appears to be like like that may have simply been a minor enhance for Conte’s aspect.
With continued stories that the one-time Chelsea boss may discover some rising stress on his shoulders, Sunday’s 2-0 defeat implies that Spurs have received simply three of their final 9 Premier League showdowns.
Together with having to reply prolonged questions over Lloris’ nightmare run of type, Conte will undeniably have a rising headache over his aspect’s quite obtrusive struggles on residence soil.
Placing in a dreadful first-half show in opposition to their bitter north London rivals right here, Tottenham now face an uphill wrestle in the event that they’re to safe back-to-back top-four end this season.
The truth is, together with opening 2023 with a shock 2-0 loss in opposition to Aston Villa, Spurs have now remarkably misplaced 4 of their earlier 5 top-flight showdowns in entrance of their very own supporters – a run that stems again to October fifteenth.
Match Report
Tottenham: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Doherty, Sarr, Hojberg, Sessegnon, Kulusevski, Son, Kane
Subs: Gil, Richarlison, Davies, Bissouma, Perisic
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Subs: Tierney, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Tomiyasu
Targets: Lloris OG (14′), Odegaard (36′)
Yellow Playing cards: Tottenham: Romero, Lenglet, Sarr, Sessegnon – Arsenal: Martinelli, Gabriel
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Craig Pawson