On Sunday Arsenal claimed bragging rights over their North London rivals, as they defeated 10 men Tottenham Hotspurs 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
It had not been a season has both would hoped for. Spurs were riding high on top of the league in December and a real title challenge was on the cards but soon they found themselves battling for a Top 4 finish. Whereas for Arsenal the season never really kicked off and some critics even labelled them as outsiders in the relegation battle. The started this game with Arsenal on 10th and Spurs on 8th.
In the reverse fixture, Spurs won 2-0 thanks to first half goals from Harry Kane and a wonderful strike by Son Heung-Min. The South Korean has been a star for Spurs season forming a brilliant attacking partnership with Kane. As of lately Gareth Bale looks to have recovered his young form as Tottenham suddenly looked like a sharp knife up front.
However their game plan needed some changing when Son Heung-Min was forced off the field to an injury in the 19th minute and was replaced by Erik Lamela who would soon become the talking point.
In the 33rd minute, against the run of play, Spurs took the lead with their first shot of the game after a beautiful Rabona (a method of kicking the football whereby the kicking leg is crossed behind the back of the standing leg) by Lamela which drilled past the two defenders in front of him and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Perhaps Arsenal didn't deserve to fall back behind as they were the ones who kept on attacking. The would get their reward just before the halftime when Loanee Martin Ødegaard restored parity for the Gunners with a strike from the middle of the box which took a little deflection of Toby Alderweireld which helped it past Lloris in the bottom corner in the 44th minute.
The winning moment proved out to be a penalty in the 64th minute when Alexander Lacazette converted from 12 yards out to give the Gunners a 2-1 lead and complete the comeback. The penalty decision was a debatable one as Davinson Sanchez clearly brought down Lacazette in the box, though the French Striker had already missed his scuffed his shot. Referee Michael Oliver after a moment, pointed to the spot and the VAR stood with his decision.
The highlight of the game was still remaining as Lamela picked up a first yellow card in the 69th minute for a late challenge from behind on Thomas Partey. He received a second yellow in the 76th minute when he raised his arm across the face of Keiran Tierney and was sent off. He became the first player since November 2012 for Spurs to score a goal and get sent off since Emmanuel Adebayor in 5-2 defeat.
Spurs were denied by the frame of the goal in the 90th minute when Harry Kane's low freekick strucked the post. The ball then fall for Sanchez whose follow up attempt was blocked by Gabriel to preserve Arsenal's lead.
Spurs are still 8th,2 points ahead of Champions Liverpool in 9th while Arsenal remained 10th however they are now just 4 points behind their North London rivals.
MatchWeek 28 Results in Full-
Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa
Leeds United 0-0 Chelsea
Crystal Palace 1-0 West Brom
Everton 1-2 Burnley
Fulham 0-3 Manchester City
Southampton 1-2 Brighton
Leicester City 5-0 Sheffield United
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspurs
Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
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