Bukayo Saka got a goal and forced an own goal as Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the 195th North London derby on Sunday.
The England international scored his 15th goal in the Premier League this season in the five-goal thriller at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the Gunners extended their temporary lead at the top of the standings to four points.
Saka’s goal helps him become the first Englishman to score home and away in a single Premier League season for Arsenal against Tottenham since Ian Wright in the 1993/94 campaign.
Like Wright, the 22-year-old also became the first English player to score 15+ goals for Arsenal in a single Premier League campaign since the 1996/97 season.
He also ties former Togolese forward Emmanuel Adebayor and former Sweden international Frederik Ljungberg on 46 Premier League goals for Arsenal.
A BIG WIN ON THE ROAD ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RbaCBtvaqe
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 28, 2024
After Kai Havertz’s 13th-minute strike was correctly ruled out for offside, Arsenal opened the scoring two minutes later via an own goal from Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg, who headed the ball into his own net off a corner kick from Saka.
Spurs came close to equalising through Argentine defender Cristian Romero, but his glancing header was denied by the woodwork. Shortly after, Romero’s centre-back partner, Micky van de Ven, thought he had drawn his side level, but his ferocious close-range strike was ruled out for offside.
On the other end, Saka increased Arsenal’s lead with his first goal in four league games. After being played in by Havertz, he wrongfooted a Spurs defender before slotting the ball past Guglielmo Vicario in goal.
Havertz, who has recently been in immaculate form, consolidated the Gunners’ first-half display with their third goal, towering highest to nod home a corner kick from Declan Rice for his 12th Premier League goal of the season and his third goal in two games.
Tottenham pulled one back in the 64th minute through Romero, who capitalised on a mistake from David Raya before placing the ball into the bottom corner and sending the Arsenal goalkeeper the wrong way.
The goal changed the shape of the game as Ange Postecoglou’s men pushed for a second, which was presented to them late in the tie after Rice fouled Ben Davies inside the box. Spurs captain Heung-min Son stepped up and converted the penalty as he bagged yet another goal in a North London derby for the fifth consecutive match.
Although Tottenham pushed hard for an equaliser, Arsenal were resolute, with Raya making a big save and claiming a series of crucial crosses to guide his side to the win.
Another milestone for Mikel 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xh7diU9ZZA
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 28, 2024
Mikel Arteta got his 100th Premier League win as Arsenal’s manager and his side are currently on 80 points after 35 matches; they sit four points above Manchester City (76 ), who will have a game in hand after facing Nottingham Forest on Sunday evening.
