Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal. Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur StadiumAttendance61,870.
Match report and free highlights as Arsenal move eight points clear of Man City with a 2-0 win over Tottenham; Hugo Lloris scored an own goal and Martin Odegaard netted the Gunners' second from long range as Spurs lost ground on the top four
Tuesday 17 January 2023 17:52, UK
Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Spurs in a pulsating North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Mikel Arteta's side, seeking to capitalise on Manchester City's defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, went ahead when Hugo Lloris clumsily spilled a Bukayo Saka cross into his own net (14).
Martin Odegaard then capped a dominant first-half display with a stunning long-range effort (36) which ultimately sealed Arsenal's first Premier League away win over Spurs since 2014.
Antonio Conte's side improved in the second half following yet another insipid first-half showing, but they could not find a way past Aaron Ramsdale, who made a string of fine saves.
In chaotic scenes after the final whistle, the Arsenal goalkeeper then appeared to be kicked by a supporter behind his goal as he went to retrieve his water bottle following an altercation with Richarlison.
The situation was quickly diffused, however, leaving Arsenal to celebrate a victory which puts them in a commanding position in the Premier League title race and leaves their north London rivals five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in fifth.
Arsenal had suffered a blow before the game, with Chelsea hijacking their deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk, but the saga proved no distraction on the pitch.
The Gunners were dominant from the start, with Lloris forced into an early, close-range save from Eddie Nketiah after being caught on the ball in his own box by Gabriel Martinelli.
It was a let-off for the Spurs goalkeeper, but a second blunder less than 10 minutes later saw him divert Saka's cross into his own net after the Arsenal forward had latched onto Thomas Partey's ball over the top.
It was a horrible error from the Frenchman - his third leading to a goal in the Premier League this season - and he continued to come under heavy pressure as the visitors pinned Spurs back.
A rare foray upfield from Spurs saw Ramsdale make a fine save from Heung-Min Son, but it was all Arsenal otherwise, with Odegaard forcing a low save from Lloris and Partey crashing a beautifully-struck volley against the post.
Their second goal arrived soon after that as the excellent Odegaard led Arsenal upfield and fired a clinical drive into the bottom corner from outside the box for his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign.
Spurs managed to create an opening right before the break, with Ramsdale saving smartly from Harry Kane's near-post header, and the Arsenal goalkeeper then had a busy spell as the visitors started the second half strongly.
Kane was again denied, this time from a Dejan Kulusevski pass, but Ramsdale's best stop came from Ryan Sessegnon, the 24-year-old spreading himself and getting a toe to the wing-back's low effort after he had got in behind the Arsenal defence.
Kulusevski curled a diagonal shot narrowly wide after that, but Arsenal soon regained a foothold in the game and managed the rest of the second half intelligently, albeit without the dominance they enjoyed before the break.
Tensions then boiled over after the final whistle, a brawl threatening to break out among the players after Ramsdale appeared to be kicked by a supporter who jumped onto the advertising hoarding behind the goal following his altercation with Richarlison.
But Arteta was among those who helped to intervene, first pulling Ramsdale away from the Spurs players, then doing the same with an irate Granit Xhaka before Arsenal celebrated their win in front of the travelling supporters.
Mikel Arteta talked up Arsenal's togetherness and expressed his delight at the victory in his press conference.
"It's great," he said in his press conference. "Going in the dressing room and feeling the joy and togetherness around the team and how much it meant to them - it's special.
"We know we are here because of the way we play, the way we live together and the unity we have. We must not forget that because tomorrow we have to try to do exactly the same and carry on with the form we have at the moment.
"This game has a big emotional attachment because obviously there is a big history between the two clubs and it means so much for us and our people to win here.
"It is a great position to be in and let's enjoy every single moment and let's keep focusing."
Spurs head coach Antonio Conte told Sky Sports: "It was difficult to come back after conceding two goals. The second goal could have killed everybody but not my players as in the second half we tried with a big effort.
"I think the goalkeeper made fantastic saves. Arsenal are a difficult opponent now - like Manchester City. Both teams are going to be title contenders and one will win the Premier League.
"We played against a strong team but I'm not disappointed with the commitment. They showed desire to come back. In the past we did this but the goalkeeper was really good not to concede a goal.
"I'm sure it wasn't easy for them to play against us in dealing with the atmosphere. They showed they have a great balance and to hit at the right moments. And then to suffer also in the second half as they suffered a lot and showed resilience.
"When a team can do this that means they are ready to fight to win the title."
Tottenham's next game is a huge Premier League clash at Manchester City on Thursday, live on Sky Sports - kick-off 8pm.
Antonio Conte's side then travel to Fulham for another London derby on Monday Night Football on January 23, live on Sky Sports - kick-off 8pm.
Arsenal's next outing is a vital Premier League fixture at home to Manchester United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports - kick-off 4.30pm.
