Premier League 2024-25: Trossard winner helps Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1 in North London derby
Premier League 2024-25: Trossard winner helps Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1 in North London derby
Leandro Trossard transformed the mood at Arsenal with the winning goal as it came from a goal down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at home in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The derby victory not only rekindled Arsenal’s title hopes as it moved back into second place behind Liverpool, it proved a timely tonic after a difficult start to the year.
Defeat at home by Newcastle United last week in the League Cup semifinal first leg and then a penalty shootout exit at home against Manchester United in the FA Cup had left Arsenal’s season in danger of unravelling.
A season-ending injury to Gabriel Jesus added to Arsenal’s worries and when Son Heung-min’s deflected volley gave Tottenham the lead against the run of play after 25 minutes it looked as though Arsenal’s gloom might deepen.
But it hit back impressively to win a third Premier League north London derby in succession for the first time since 1989.
Arsenal was rocked but equalised in the 40th minute from a reliable weapon as Declan Rice swung in a corner that was met at the far post by Gabriel, whose header deflected in off Spurs forward Dominic Solanke.
Tottenham had a reason to feel frustrated though as the corner from which Arsenal equalised looked to have been wrongly awarded.
Four minutes later, the turnaround was complete as Tottenham was yet again guilty of losing the ball in dangerous areas and was punished as Trossard was played in to fire a left-foot shot past the dive of Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky.
Arsenal failed to finish off Tottenham after the break with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard both guilty of failing to give its side some breathing space.
It almost cost Arsenal as Pedro Porro struck the outside of the post deep in stoppage time for the visitors but Arsenal had done enough to secure the points.
Mikel Arteta’s side is unbeaten in 11 Premier League games and moved back above Nottingham Forest into second place with 43 points from 21 games. Liverpool has 47 from one game fewer.
For Tottenham, it is are now without a win in five league games and has won only once in nine, and is stuck down in 13th place with 24 points.
