Premier League

TOTTENHAM 2 (Romero 64, Son pen 87)
ARSENAL 3 (Hojbjerg og 15, Saka 27, Havertz 38)

TOTTENHAM made a first half hash of the north London derby today (Sunday), conceding three poor goals to title-chasing Arsenal.

The Gunners raced into an insurmountable lead through a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg own-goal, a Bukayo Saka strike and a Kai Havertz header without breaking sweat – creating almost a sense of bemusement at how easily their opponents had handed them the advantage.

A second half rally gave the score some respectability, but in truth, the gulf between first and fifth in the Premier League was apparent.

Speaking after the game, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou highlighted how his evolving side needed to learn to focus. “A disappointing day for us,” he said. “It is about understanding where we are as a team.

“There are details in games we need to look at. There are times when we give the opposition too much time and space – and they will hurt you. Arsenal had four attempts on goal in the first half and scored three goals so it is a broader picture than defending a set-piece. There is work to be done.”

Postecoglou added he felt his side had controlled the game for extended periods but were let down by small lapses Arsenal capitalised on. He said: “For their second, we were focussed on a decision at the other end, when we should have been looking at what was happening.”

His counterpart, Mikel Arteta, said his side had come out of a sticky period and the players had shown today how much they want success. “At the end, I was praying,” he said of the Tottenham onslaught. Spurs were throwing the ball into our box. We were three up and dominating – and then something happened. They have the players, the talent to create problems and we really had to dig in.”

Before the own-goal, Spurs had looked ready to compete. Rodrigo Bentancur and Hojbjerg were getting on to Thomas Partey and Declan Rice and their tigerish press gave Arsenal no time to settle.

The Gunners first real attack resulted in a free-kick after James Maddison lost Partey and grabbed an arm to make up for it. Martin Odegaard sent his set-piece effort into the wall.

Up the other end, Bentancur smuggled the ball off Rice’s toes and after some pretty patterns between the white shirts, Maddison curled a poor effort well high.

A moment later and Arsenal were in front – and in circumstances similar to the opener last year, when Hugo Lloris conspired to throw a cross into his own net. This time, Saka spun in a near post cross. Hojbjerg rose highest in a scrum and arrowed the ball past his own goalkeeper.

A corner up the other end saw Spurs nearly get straight back on level terms: hit to the penalty spot, Cristian Romero got up and his glancer went inches wide. Tottenham’s next big chance came via Romero again – this time a back post header that he sent against the upright.

Arsenal were happy to contain and then hit on the break, and Saka was always dangerous on the right. Before he was to extend his team’s lead, Tottenham believed they had hauled their rivals back.

On 23 minutes, another Spurs corner saw a half clearance land for Pedro Porro. The full-back saw the opportunity to cause trouble and walloped a shot goalwards through a tangle of players legs. A confusing game of pinball on the edge of the box ended with Micky van de Ven emerge slotting home.

Amidst chaotic celebrations, a VAR check deemed the centre-back to be a fraction off when the ball spun into his feet and the visitors’ lead remained intact.

Did the decision send the blood to Tottenham’s heads?

The next onslaught from Spurs was gung-ho and disjointed, and when possession was inevitably lost, they were pulled out of shape.

Arsenal made it look too easy as they switched play from left to right to find Saka in acres of space. He took his time, evaded Ben Davies’ attempts to get back, and beat Guglielmo Vicario with ease.

Spurs did what they could, but the second took the wind out of their sails and Arsenal looked to have won the game without having to stretch themselves.

It was only going to get worse and on 37 minutes it felt like game over. An Arsenal corner saw Havertz granted the freedom of N17 to head home from close range.

A first half of comically bad football from Tottenham got worse when Timo Werner hobbled off injured.

The mix of trying too hard and a lack of confidence was blatant when Heung-Min Son controlled a long ball and broke into the box, but scooped his shot into the sky.

Postecoglou had seen enough at half-time and replaced Bentancur for Pape Matar Sarr, who must surely have done his long term first-team chances a world of good by not being involved in the first 45 minutes.

Arsenal emerged with the pomp a team top of the table and three-nil up at their rivals should display. It looked likely they would grab another, while Tottenham’s attacks floundered.

But the home players strived to find some kind of compensation. Dejan Kulusevski laid the ball on to Romero’s head, but the defender’s effort went over. Then Kulusevski burst into the box on a mazy run, and was stopped by a Partey and Rice duet.

Up the other end, Arsenal nearly made it four when Saka volleyed and Vicario saved.

With the scores as they were on 67, Romero, who had grown increasingly frustrated at his teammates, and increasingly appearing all over the pitch as he tried to take the game Arsenal, found himself high up and out of position.

David Raya was in no hurry and went to clear his lines – and Romero charged down and finished. It gave the game a fillip, and Postecoglou saw a chink of light that he chipped away at by taking off the invisible Maddison for Richarlison.

But Arsenal’s game management was such that for all of Spurs huff and puff, Raya was comfortable with the crosses that came mainly via the work of Brennan Johnson.

On 87, Davies, who had been solid against Saka defensively and direct going forward, got on to a loose ball as Arsenal failed to clear, and a rogue boot from Rice left Davies in a heap. With the aid of VAR, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, and Son to set-up a grandstand finale as Spurs sought to earn an unlikely point. But Arsenal stood firm and put another three points on to their title challenge tally.

After seeing his side do what was needed to remain top for another weekend, Arteta said: “It was a really emotional game. We were 3-0 up, in control of the game, then in the second half we were dominating the game and creating chances. Then an individual error happens, that puts a message in your brain.

“We were dealing with the situations better, another [goal] and then it’s game on. They have the players and the quality to commit a lot of players forward. We had to suffer and react and I’m very pleased that we did.”

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Davies (Lo Celso, 87), Bentancur (Sarr, 45), Hojbjerg (Bissouma, 64), Kulusevski, Maddison (Richarlison, 62), Werner (Johnson, 30), Son
Substitutes not used: Austin, Dragusin, Gil, Royal

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Rice, Odegaard (Kiwior, 88), Trossard (Martinelli, 62), Saka, Havertz
Substitutes not used: Ramsdale, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Jorginho, Vieira, Zinchenko