Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal. Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Match report and free highlights as Toby Alderweireld and Heung-Min Son seal comeback Spurs victory in 187th north London derby
Monday 13 July 2020 06:08, UK
Jose Mourinho tasted victory in his first north London derby as Tottenham came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday.
Toby Alderweireld's 81st-minute header claimed a vital three points for Spurs' European push in their first encounter with their rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Alexandre Lacazette's venomous drive had given Arsenal an early lead but the Gunners' defensive frailties came back to haunt them as Sead Kolasinac's error gifted Heung-Min Son the equaliser three minutes later.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rattled the post as Arsenal turned up opportunities to restore their lead before Alderweireld's strike, but Spurs found a way as Mourinho extended his unbeaten Premier League home record against the Gunners to 10 matches with another vintage tactical display.
The victory lifts Spurs above Arsenal into eight in the table, while Arsenal drop to ninth, two points adrift of their rivals with three games remaining.
It took Spurs just 30 seconds to register an effort on goal, something they failed to do in 90 minutes against Bournemouth, as Lucas Moura's drive forced a diving save from Emiliano Martinez.
The Arsenal goalkeeper was called into action on 11 minutes, launching himself high into the air to Harry Kane putting Spurs ahead with a lofted finish.
Kane's opposite number Aubameyang spurned a glorious chance to hand Arsenal the lead when he swiped at thin air while attempting to convert Hector Bellerin's centre, but the anguish was momentary thanks to Lacazette, who rammed a thunderbolt past Hugo Lloris into the top corner as the Gunners struck first.
Spurs' response to the setback was rapid, but they were given a helping hand by a loose Sead Kolasinac pass that left David Luiz helpless and allowed Son to race in on goal and cancel Arsenal's advantage within three minutes with a chipped finish over Martinez.
Spurs grew in confidence after restoring parity but found Martinez in inspired form as the Gunners stopper smothered Kane's low shot before tipping a stunning Ben Davies drive from 25 yards onto the crossbar.
Aubameyang whipped a free-kick wide of goal and Nicolas Pepe drew Lloris into a save as Arsenal built momentum before the break, momentum they carried into the second half as the Gunners dominated possession as Spurs sat deep.
Shkodran Mustafi's ambitious overhead kick was comfortably saved by Lloris but the Spurs goalkeeper could only watch as Aubameyang's near-post drive rattled the angle of post and bar shortly before the hour.
Having kept Spurs at arm's length for the duration of the second half, Arsenal almost gifted the hosts the lead as Mustafi's over-commitment while challenging Kane left the centre-back on the turf, but Martinez bailed him out with a smothering save at the feet of Son before he could convert Kane's centre.
Aubameyang's half volley forced a fingertip save from Lloris as Arsenal pushed for a late winner, but they were undone with nine minutes remaining as Alderweireld rose high to head Son's corner home to maintain Mourinho's imperious home record against the Gunners.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho: "The game was more tactical than anything. I think Mikel [Arteta] found a way for them to play, to be stable and to improve - they are improving and we felt that we should adapt slightly to them and I think we did it very well.
"I think during the game nobody thought about it, even myself I didn't, but Arsenal had 48 hours more than us to rest, so it was hard but come from their hearts this effort, this battle.
"Even in the last minutes of the game after 2-1, zero problems, everything under control so we are happy. We are happy because we made the fans happy, we are happy because we are still in the fight to win a Europa League position."
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta: "We are really sad, we wanted to give our fans a moment of glory and happiness. We tried our best, I am really proud of my players. I've never seen us play like this before, dominating an opponent as much as we did today.
"But we gave them a goal again, conceded at a set piece and at that level you cannot do that. The game was ours, we had total control. They didn't generate anything. But the small details cost us and that is the biggest part we have to address as a team.
"It's a massive blow, the players are gutted. You saw the effort they put in. We came here to win, that is game plan we had. To lose it, it will take a few days to swallow that one because we know how much it means to our fans."
A goal, an assist and an influential performance in the north London derby. Jose Mourinho couldn't have asked for more from Son and his role is the wider Spurs game plan proved crucial.
The South Korean was on his toes and alert to haul Spurs level after Arsenal's opener, taking his tally for the season to 13 - more than any of his team-mates.
And in a game of tight margins, his corner was on the money as Alderweireld clinched victory late on and Son became the first Spurs player to score and assist in a Premier League north London derby since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2012.
Spurs travel to Newcastle on Wednesday at 6pm, host Leicester on Super Sunday at 4pm before concluding their Premier League campaign away at Crystal Palace at 4pm on July 26.
Arsenal host champions Liverpool on Wednesday at 8.15pm, live on Sky Sports, take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday at 7.45pm, travel to Aston Villa on July 21 at 8.15pm and complete their Premier League season at home to Watford at 4pm on July 26.
