Arsenal edge past 10-man Spurs in dramatic derby
Alexandre Lacazette scored Arsenal’s winner from the penalty spot as they downed 10-man Tottenham despite captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being dropped due to disciplinary issues.
The striker was only named among the substitutes as the club confirmed a breach in pre-match protocol ahead of the north London derby – but his team-mates would win regardless, coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.
Lacazette turned home a second-half penalty after Martin Odegaard had earlier cancelled out a sublime ra bona finish from Spurs substitute ErikLamela–who was sent off for picking up two quick bookings as the visitors chased the game.
Mikel Arteta had lost his previous two games against Spurs as Arsenal boss – but he got the better of Jose M our in ho to move within four points of their neighbours in the table. While Lacazette replaced Aubameyang, Emile Smith Rowe and Cedric So ares were also recalled into the Arsenal side.
Both would see efforts hit the woodwork either side of a breathtaking moment of skill from Lamela. The Argentinian forward had replaced Son Heung-min,w ho pulled up than 20 minutes into the contest.
His first involvement was to take a pass from Lucas Moura and direct a rabona
finish along the ground and into the corner of Bernd Leno’s goal.
Arsenal would deservedly go in level at the interval as Odegaard scored his first Premier League goal – his tame effort deflecting off Toby Alderweireld and past Hugo
Lloris.
But just moments after Deli Alli’s introduction, the visitors would find themselves behind as referee Michael Oliver adjudged that Davinson Sanchez had wiped out Lacazette in the box.
The VAR was in agreement
and Lacazette dusted himself off to send Lloris the wrong way and score the 20 th penalty in Premier League games between the two sides, the most in any fixture in the competition’s history.
Tottenham’s task of earning a result was made all the harder as Lamela was dismissed for two bookings in seven minutes.
Harry Kane endured a quiet afternoon leading the line for Spurs but thought he had headed them level – only to see his 83rd-minute header chalked out for offside.