90min

X reacts as Arsenal blow Tottenham away in first half of north London derby

  • Arsenal earned three goals in the first half to set off the north London derby
  • Tottenham were denied a goal after VAR ruled their chance offside
  • Bukayo Saka secured his 15th goal of the season

By Katie Catherall

Arsenal lead the way against Spurs
Arsenal lead the way against Spurs / Chloe Knott - Danehouse/GettyImages
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Arsenal have taken a commanding lead heading into half-time of their crucial north London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners had gone into the north London derby against arch rivals Tottenham knowing that any slip-up would put the Premier League title race into the hands of Manchester City heading into the final few weeks of the 2023/24 season.

Arsenal wasted no time to open up the scoreline, thanks to Spurs' Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for the all-important first goal. The holding midfielder nodded into the back of his own net while attempting to deal with a typical wicked set piece delivery from Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal's goal did wonders to spur the Tottenham side on, however, as Ange Postecoglou's team threw themselves back into the action.

Spurs thought they had bagged a deserved equaliser in the 22nd minute when Micky van de Ven rifled past David Raya.

After a lengthy VAR check, the goal was eventually ruled out for offside.

The Gunners didn't have to worry about any potential Spurs comeback for long, as starboy Bukayo Saka gave them a two goal lead, scoring his 15th of the season.

Soon after, it was 3-0.

Kai Havertz, once again silencing his doubters by bagging another goal for the Gunners. The set piece experts lined up a corner, which landed to Havertz and was slotted into the net with ease.

'Kai Havertz scores again' rang around the stadium, and the German made sure to shush the opposition's fans as he celebrated.

When the second half resumed, Arsenal were handed plenty of chances, as the Gunners remained the attacking, confident side.

A chance came for Takehiro Tomiyasu and another shortly followed for Saka, solidfying Arsenal's chances of taking the victory.

As the clocked ticked over the hour mark, Spurs looked hungry, and decided they needed to earn their own back.

A goal came from Cristian Romero, denying David Raya of a clean sheet after the keeper made an error to allow the ball past him.

He became the first player not named Harry Kane or Heung-min Son to score a goal against Arsenal since Erik Lamela netted his Puskas Award winner on 14 March 2021.

If Tottenham were ruled out of the first half, they made sure to assert their dominance in the second.

The north London derby is never a quiet game, but when Spurs were awarded a penalty and stepped up to earn their second goal, they awakened the once quiet Tottenham fans.

A foul on Ben Davies awarded a penalty to Spurs, and Heung-Min Son had no problems in slotting it into the back of the net, looking composed while doing so.

But, the second goal from Spurs wasn't enough to knock Arsenal off their podium, as the league leaders continued their reign.

They now sit four points clear of Manchester City, ahead of their game with Nottingham Forest,

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