Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Arsenal
As Premier League North London derbies go, this was a slightly surreal experience. The lack of spectators guaranteed that.
Yet while it did not possess quite the same quality as many clashes of yesteryear, including the exciting early season encounter in September when the sides shared four goals at the Emirates Stadium, it was still largely compelling from start to finish.
Then, of course, Unai Emery and Mauricio Pochettino were the men in charge. Now it’s Mikel Arteta and Jose Mourinho.
But one thing remains consistent.
For just when it looked like the sides may be about to share the spoils for a second time this term, up popped a centre-back to head home a winner and prove that Arsenal’s soft centre is still as obvious now as it has been for much of the past decade.
The Gunners have now dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season; only West Ham (24) have lost more.
Highlights of the game
From the outset, the absence of the usually noisy atmosphere was evident, of course.
So was the fact this was an end of season clash which sees both sides unlikely to qualify for a European berth.
However, there were still enough Premier League 2020 highlights to keep you interested and eight bookings was a testament to the fact this game always matters!
The first two goals, when they arrived, all came within a four-minute spell inside the opening 20 minutes.
First, Granit Xhaka’s strong tackle allowed the ball to run into the path of Alexandre Lacazette, and he hit a ferocious shot which left Hugo Lloris well and truly beaten.
A mere 137 seconds later, Sead Kolasinac played a blind backpass which Son Heung-Min anticipated and coolly chipped the ball over Emiliano Martinez.
It was another defensive aberration from the visitors who had Martinez to thank early on as he kept out Harry Kane.
The visitors then had the woodwork to thank when left-back Ben Davies struck the bar with another long-range blockbuster.
The SBOBET Premier League 2020 betting odds remained delicately poised at the break and again by the hour mark. This time it was Spurs who had to be thankful for the woodwork as Lacazette played in strike partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and he drilled a rising shot against the bar with Lloris beaten.
As both sides continued to attack, the impressive Martinez denied Kane on a further two occasions, while Lloris managed to reach Aubmayeng’s half-volley which seemed destined for the far corner.
Then a routine a goal as you are likely to see: an in-swinging corner from Son and a flicked header from Toby Alderweireld.
Victory for Spurs to ease some of the grumblings about life under Mourinho and the harsh criticism which has come his way.
Defeat for Arsenal in their very first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one which was caused by an all too familiar weakness.
Key statistics
This was the 186th North London derby. Arsenal have won 77 times, Tottenham 59 and there have been 51 draws.
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Arsenal (won four, drawn two).
Mourinho has never lost a home game against Arsenal in his career (won six, drawn four).
Spurs have now won three league games in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since their opening three Premier League matches there in April 2019.
This was the 10th time either side has come from behind to win this fixture in the Premier League (Tottenham four, Arsenal six); the joint-most comeback wins in a single fixture in the competition’s history.
Son is the first Spurs player to score and assist in a Premier League game against Arsenal since February 2012, when Emmanuel Adebayor did so.
Lacazette is the first Arsenal player to score home and away against Spurs in a single league season since Per Mertesacker in 2012-13.
No Premier League fixture has seen more penalties scored than the north London derby – 19 have been netted in total.
Arteta lost only two of his nine North London derby appearances as an Arsenal player.
What’s next?
A big week awaits for both clubs, but particularly Arsenal.
They host Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday and then face FA Cup holders Man City in the first of this season’s semi-finals at Wembley three days later.
Spurs are at Newcastle on Wednesday night and then host Euro chasing Leicester a week today (July 19).
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