Young Guns’ early salvo leaves Spurs shot to bits
ARSENAL produced a superb first-half performance to beat Tottenham and leapfrog their north London rivals in the Premier League table.
Spurs had no answer to their hosts, who were spurred on by academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, with both scoring and assisting in an impressive victory.
Smith Rowe opened the scoring and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled the lead before Saka struck in a first 45 minutes dominated by Mikel Arteta’s side. Heung-min Son grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.
Spurs were top of the league ahead of last month’s international break, with their fans taking great pleasure in seeing Arsenal propping up the table. They are now one place below their neighbours in 11th.
The hosts started the game far more brightly and duly delivered the opening goal just 12 minutes into the contest. Martin Odegaard spread the ball wide to Saka, whose low cross into the box was swept home by Smith Rowe.
Arsenal doubled their lead as the game approached the half-hour mark, Smith Rowe this time turning provider – bursting into the box and squaring for Aubameyang to finish. Things would get even better for the Gunners as Saka made it 3-0. Partey stole the ball off Harry Kane and Arsenal again broke behind the Spurs defence.
Smith Rowe found Saka – who ran into the box and was challenged by a backtracking Kane, only for the loose ball to roll back into the path of his England team-mate who then finished low past Hugo Lloris. The start of the
second half saw Arteta up in arms as he wanted a penalty for a foul on Gabriel Magalhaes as the hosts pushed for a fourth goal.
Spurs were soon wanting their own spot-kick after Ben White seemed to trip Kane, but referee Craig Pawson and VAR remained unmoved.
The visitors finally got on the scoresheet with 11 minutes remaining, Son dispatching Sergio Reguilon’s centre.
A comeback never looked likely but Aaron Ramsdale did superbly to tip a deflected Lucas Moura shot onto the crossbar in stoppage time as Arsenal saw out the remainder of the game.