Spurs star scores wonder goal, then sees red
It says a lot about Arsenal’s struggles that not even a first North London derby win in more than two years does much for their Premier League targets.
Even after coming from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1, Arsenal sit in 10th place and 10 points from the top four.
The more significant results yesterday in the Champions League chase were victories for Manchester United and Leicester, who both pulled further clear.
United, who are 14 points behind leaders Manchester City in second, beat fifth-place West Ham 1-0. Leicester remain a point behind United after routing Sheffield United 5-0. Chelsea are now five points further back in fourth after only managing a draw on Monday (NZ time).
Alexandre Lacazette captained Arsenal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the starting lineup following a breach of prematch protocols.
Emile Smith Rowe was unfortunate not to open the scoring for Arsenal when his shot came back off the crossbar with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris beaten.
And Tottenham substitute Erik Lamela, on for the injured Son Heung-Min, took full advantage with an audacious ‘‘rabona’’ shot from Lucas Moura’s layoff 12 minutes before the break.
Arsenal levelled with a minute of the first half remaining when Martin Odegaard’s shot clipped defender Toby Alderweireld and eluded Lloris.
Lacazette put the hosts ahead from the spot in the second half after being felled by Davinson Sanchez’s untidy challenge before Lamela was dismissed for a second bookable offence for recklessly swinging his arm at Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.
Harry Kane had a late header ruled out for offside and then rattled a post with an 89th-minute free kick in a tense conclusion to the game as Tottenham remained seventh, six points from the top four.
At Old Trafford, Craig Dawson inadvertently headed past his own West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the 53rd minute after Scott McTominay had touched on Bruno Fernandes’ corner.
Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard’s third goal of the season dragged Brighton three points clear of the relegation zone courtesy of a 2-1 win at Southampton.
Lewis Dunk put Brighton ahead in the 16th-minute but Che Adams volleyed the Saints level within 11 minutes. But Trossard restored the Seagulls’ lead 11 minutes after the restart after running on to Danny Welbeck’s deft touch.