Relentless Arsenal beat arch-rivals Tottenham despite huge mistakes and penalties – Dagsavisen

17

Arsenal have had a good grip on their arch-rivals in recent years and claimed their fifth win in the last seven games.

On Sunday, the visitors delivered effective attacking football and goals by Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (own goal) made it 3-0 at half-time.

– Tottenham have had opportunities, but they are not as effective, said Viaplay expert Eirik Bakke.

After the break, Cristian Romero reduced the deficit thanks to a gift from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. The Spaniard was about to kick the ball out, but it went straight to Romero who had an easy job rolling it into the goal.

With five minutes remaining, Son Heung-min scored from the penalty spot, but the hosts got no closer.

With the victory, Arsenal stands on 80 points with three games left in this year’s Premier League season. Manchester City are four points behind, but have played two games less. Thus, Erling Braut Haaland’s team has everything in their own hands.

Tottenham are fighting for Champions League play next season and are seven points behind Aston Villa in fourth place. Tottenham have played two games less than the Birmingham club.

Ødegaard milestone

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard played his 150th game for the club on Sunday. The Norwegian has recently been praised for his contributions in matches. On Sunday, he appeared to have secured an early assist when Havertz put the ball in the goal, but Ødegaard was just offside and it was disallowed.

A few minutes later, however, the leading goal came. Tottenham player Pierre-Emile Højbjerg forwarded Bukayo Saka’s corner kick into his own goal.

After 22 minutes it was the home side’s turn to have the margins against them when Micky van de Ven’s goal was canceled out for a very fine offside. Before that, Tottenham had pressed the visitors hard and had a shot on the post.

Counterattack

When the lily whites did not get their score, they were punished mercilessly. Shortly afterwards, Arsenal countered to make it 2-0 when Saka dribbled past Ben Davies and put the ball into the net.

Before the break, Havertz made it 3-0 when he headed the ball into the goal from a corner kick. Despite the reductions, the visitors took a strong victory.

Arsenal will host Bournemouth in the next match, while Tottenham will play a new rival match against Chelsea.

(©NTB)