Gunners outclass Spurs
Arsenal tore Tottenham apart with three goals in the opening 34 minutes in a 3-1 victory yesterday that extended their early-season recovery and completed a miserable September for their north London rival in the Premier League.
The goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka completed a third successive league win for Arsenal, who lost their opening three games.
In a reversal of fortunes, Tottenham have now lost three in a row in the league after opening with a trio of successes.
The opener came in the 12th minute after Martin Odegaard spread the ball wide to Saka, whose low cross reached the unmarked Smith Rowe to sweep into the net.
Arsenal pounced on the counter-attack in the 27th, with Smith Rowe squaring for Aubameyang to add the second goal.
Things would get even better for the Gunners as Saka got on the score sheet.
Thomas Partey stole the ball off Harry Kane and Arsenal again broke behind the Spurs defence with three passes. Smith Rowe found Saka, who ran into the box and was challenged well by a backtracking Kane, only for the loose ball to roll back into the path of his England teammate. Saka then finished low past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham gave themselves a chance to make an unexpected comeback, as Son Heung-min turned in a cross from Sergio Reguilon in the 79th. But there would be no recovery for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Earlier yesterday, Raul Jimenez conjured a moment of magic to claim his first goal since suffering a career-threatening fractured skull and earn Wolverhampton a 1-0 Premier League victory at winless Southampton.
The Mexico striker, who wears protective head gear following his clash with David Luiz at Arsenal last year, ended a 336-day wait to hit the net after waltzing through the defence in the 61st minute.
He twice beat Southampton defender Jan Bednarek, as well as leaving Mohammed Salisu slipping to the ground, before slotting beyond goalkeeper Alex McCarthy in front of a packed away end.
Jimenez feared he would never play again in the aftermath of his horrific head injury at the Emirates Stadium almost 10 months ago, and only returned to playing at the start of this season.
The goal secured Wolves only a second win of the season under new manager Bruno Lage.
Defeat for Southampton leaves the south-coast team winless in the league this season after six games.