Arsenal embarrass Tottenham with dominant north London derby win

Arsenal enjoyed a rousing 3-1 victory over Tottenham in a Premier League north London derby at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, as the Gunners sparkled and Spurs turned in an abject display.

Goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka in the first half ended the match as a contest after just 34 minutes, with the home side slicing through their local rivals at will.

Son Heung-min made the score line more respectable for the visitors as time ticked away, but it was nowhere near enough to change the result.

It looked like this was a north London derby that was tough to call going into the contest, with neither side near their best form, but it was Arsenal who found top gear in impressive fashion while Spurs sank to a new low this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were playing route one football early in the game, with no joy at all, and when they attempted to push forward en masse, were scythed apart on the counter-attack.

Smith Rowe opened the scoring on just 12 minutes as he swept home from close range after good work from Saka on the right laid it on a plate for him.

It was Smith Rowe who then turned provider 15 minutes later as Arsenal powered forward on the counter-attack and the 21-year-old burst onto a flick from Aubmeyang in the centre-circle.

The young Englishman made it into the penalty area before returning the ball to his captain who finished well past Hugo Lloris.

There was some controversy as Spurs felt Granit Xhaka had fouled Pierre-Emile Hojberg in the build-up, but nothing was given and there was little in the challenge.

On 34 minutes it was another counter-attack and another Arsenal goal as Harry Kane gave the ball away outside the Gunners’ penalty box and it cost his side dearly.

Smith Rowe gave it to Saka who was confident enough to run directly at the heart of the Tottenham defence, it looked like he had lost the ball as he made it into the penalty area, but the ball fell kindly for him and he fired past Lloris.

The second half was a much calmer affair with Arsenal slowing their pace down noticeably and happy to control things, although this eventually allowed Spurs a ray of hope late on.

Aaron Ramsdale at not had much to do in the match, apart from one good save from a Harry Kane effort, till the 79th minute and perhaps he should have saved Son’s shot as he got a hand to the effort but could only palm it into his goal.

Sergio Reguilon cut the ball across the box from the left flank for the South Korean to apply the finish which was just about enough to beat Ramsdale.

It kept their hopes alive but they never really looked like pulling off an unlikely draw. Lucas Moura did come close to scoring, though, were it not for an incredible flying save from Ramsdale.

The Son goal just took a coat of gloss off the fine Arsenal win, as did Xhaka limping off injured after the goal, but it was still a superb afternoon for the Gunners.

Tottenham will have been slightly buoyed by their second half display, which was far better than the first 45 minutes, but only barely.

Arsenal now move above Tottenham with their third straight win win while Spurs suffer their third straight loss. Both are on nine points but the momentum is entirely with the red side of north London.

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