Arsenal moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool after coming from behind to defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.
Premier League
Result: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Date: 15 January 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Gunners coach Mikel Arteta made four changes from the FA Cup loss to Manchester United on Sunday, as Raheem Sterling, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were all recalled.
The home side dominated from the onset looking to make a good start as Martin Odegaard and Trossard saw a lot of the ball early on, but Spurs defended well in their own 18-yard area.
However, Spurs took the lead against the run of play in the 24th minute when a clearance landed at the feet of Son Heung-min, whose first-time shot took a deflection and sailed into the bottom corner.
The Gunners continued to dominate but had to wait until the 39th minute for the equaliser when Gabriel Magalhães made it two goals in two games by nodding home Rice's corner at the far post.
The hosts turned the game around two minutes before the halftime break as Trossard collected a pass from Odegaard before finding the bottom corner with a left-footed strike from just inside the box.
The game was a bit more open in the second period as Spurs pushed for an equaliser while the Gunners continued to threaten with Trossard looking lively down the left flank.
With time winding down, the Gunners nearly added a third goal after 72 minutes when Rice surged towards the box and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box but goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Spurs nearly pulled level in second-half stoppage time through Pedro Porro's powerful strike that crashed against the upright, as the Gunners held on for maximum points and climb up to second spot.
