Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham LIVE RESULT: Gunners come from behind to beat bitter rivals in North London derby – reaction
ARSENAL had to come from behind to beat North London rivals Tottenham 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Spurs skipper Son Heung-min fired the visitors ahead on 25 minutes with a sweet volley against the run of play.
Just before half time, Arsenal turned the North London derby on its head after Gabriel's header deflected in off Dominic Solanke before Leandro Trossard put the hosts ahead with a superb finish.
The Gunners have made ground on Premier League leaders Liverpool after the Reds drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
- Match result: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
- Arsenal team: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard
- Tottenham team: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall, Kulusevski, Solanke, Son
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The curious case of Kai Havertz
It is one of the wonders of the modern game as to what is the natural position of Arsenal's German utility man.
One thing is for sure, he is not a striker.
He may be able to play there, in the same way that most people in residential homes could be a Beefeater for the day but it does not mean it will work well.
Havertz misses easy chances that anyone with a striker's instinct in any shape or form would bury.
That is the task at hand for Arteta now, although if previous windows are anything to go by, he will go out and sign a deep-lying midfielder.
Credit: Reuters Partey fills the gaps for Gunners
Often playing a role that does not hit the headlines, Thomas Partey did a solid job for Mikel Arteta's side this evening.
The midfielder covered a lot of ground and prevented Tottenham from getting into their normal style of play.
He should have also had an assist when he clipped an inch-perfect cross into the box but Kai Havertz missed another sitter.
Spurs needing divine inspiration
Sitting in thirteenth place in the Premier League table, time is running out for Tottenham to turn their season around.
They have some tricky away fixtures coming up and Ange Postecoglou needs to find a winning formula from somewhere.
His side look devoid of confidence and just too easy to beat this season, something needs to change if they are to give their fans a campaign to be proud of.
Derby win boosts Gunners' confidence
If you ever wondered if these local derbies still mean as much with so little homegrown talent involved, you only had to look at the reaction of the players at the final whistle.
Arsenal know how much this match means to the fans and gives them bragging rights with all their friends.
Add to that The Gunners are now 19 points clear of their neighbours in the Premier League table.
Credit: Getty More attacking intent needed
With Bukayo Saka out injured, Arsenal look devoid of players looking to take on the opponent's defence and threaten their goal.
The Gunners are happy to play their passing game but it is seriously lacking that final pass and clinical finish.
A striker is a must but that has been evident for about three or four years now but maybe the long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus may force Mikel Arteta's hand this time.
Top goal scorers do not come cheap but certainly are the difference between winning silverware and not.
Gunners need to put run together
If Arsenal are to have any hope of challenging for the title this campaign, they cannot afford to drop any points.
Over the next couple of weeks they have some big league matches, needing to be on top of their game to get results.
Arteta said he is keen to bring in reinforcements in this transfer window, whether they can find the right players remains to be seen.
Boss not happy with display
Speaking with BT Sports after the game, the Tottenham manager spoke about his feelings on their performance:
Nowhere near good enough. Especially in the first-half, we were just too passive. Second-half was a little better but still nowhere near good enough. I'm more interested in how we go about playing our football as it's way off right now. We have had too many losses this year, let too many games get away from us, that needs to stop.
Ange PostecoglouBig man's derby goes pear-shaped
Dominic Solanke would have come into this game having dreamt of scoring the winner to make him an instant hero with the Spurs' fans.
It did not go according to plan for the Tottenham record signing.
His own goal got The Gunners back into this game and spurred them into grabbing a winner through Leandro Trossard.
Credit: Reuters Gunners cannot afford to be without talisman
Martin Odegaard is so integral to this Arsenal team, they cannot afford to lose him for a single game from now until the final game of the season.
His creativity knits this side together and allows them to get through the transitions to turn defence into attack.
His goal output should be better but there is no doubting that this looks a completely different side with or without him.
Gunners ensure London is red
You cannot deny that between the two North London clubs, Arsenal just did enough to edge this game.
The Gunners move to within four points of league leaders Liverpool, although they still have a game in hand.
Set pieces proved key once again, sending up to second in the Premier League table, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest in the process.
Credit: PA 
Credit: AFP View from SunSport's Tom Barclay at The Emirates
CARNIVAL scenes here at the Emirates at full-time - and WHAT a massive win for Mikel Arteta after a difficult week in the two cups.
His players look exhausted as the final whistle finally goes, with some on their haunches.
They were worth their win and it could have been more comfortable had a few of their players had on their shooting boots.
But Spurs also showed fight and came close to nicking a point when Pedro Porro struck a post deep into injury time.
It is now 11 defeats in 21 league games for Ange Postecoglou, yet this by no means a poor performance.
While there will rightly be frustration that the corner which led to Arsenal’s equaliser was given, seeing as replays showed it touched Leandro Trossard last before going out.
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
It is a win in the North London derby for Mikel Arteta's side.
They move to second in the table as a result also.
A Dominic Solanke own goal and strike from Leandro Trossard is enough to see off their local rivals tonight.
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
It is all over at The Emirates.
Arsenal are the victors, by the narrowest of margins.
None of that will matter, it is the three points that are most important.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
90+4. There will be more pressure on Postecgolou if they do lose this game.
No doubt he will point towards their 'injury crisis' as rationale.
To be fair, even with their strongest side available, Spurs are never looked upon as a defensive rock.
Porro tries his luck from out wide and his effort smacks the outside of the post.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
90+2. Gabriel is booked for The Gunners.
There just seems to be no urgency in Tottenham to want to get something out of this game.
Porro lifts it into the box and Solanke tries an overhead kick from a crazily tight angle.
Mental.
Credit: Reuters
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
90. We are going to have five added minutes in North London.
Tottenham are seeing plenty of the ball but they are not doing anything with it at all.
Gabriel has been awarded the man of the match for Arsenal.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
88. Lewis-Skelly was shown a yellow card as he was substituted.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving as the Spurs' players tried to make him leave the pitch by his own goal.
Time is starting to run out for the visitors.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
86. Tottenham have a corner, as they wait to take it, Bergvall goes down in the box.
The replay shows that, if anything, it was in fact the Spurs player who fouled Timber.
Lewis-Skelly and Rice come off for Zinchenko and Merino for The Gunners.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
84. A cross is lofted into the box and Raya comes to collect.
He needed to with Solanke lurking behind him.
Tottenham's record signing could do with a goal now to undo his nightmare this evening.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
82. It all has to be about game management for Mikel Arteta's side now.
They have their lead, time is running out, they just need to ensure they get over the line with all three points.
Neither keeper has had very much to do in this second-half.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
80. Spence makes his way into the box but he is well dealt with by Saliba.
The Tottenham defender ends up on the floor, looking for a penalty, but the referee is not interested at all.
He shepherded him towards the byline and used his strength to see him off there.
Credit: Alamy
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
78. Richarlison has come on for Son in a Tottenham change.
Porro plays the ball forward to Bergvall but he is gets it all wrong and it runs out for an Arsenal goal kick.
This game feels like it has another goal in it.
View from SunSport's Tom Barclay at The Emirates
ARSENAL fans are edgy, willing their team to shoot whenever there is a clear sight at goal.
They know what a huge win this will be to breathe new life into their team after a rough week.
Meanwhile Ange Postecoglou had gone full Ange Postecoglou by playing a very attacking midfield three of Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
It has meant Arsenal have played through them easier, but with the goal deficit still only one, all it takes is one chance…
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
76. Trossard is being replaced for Tierney for The Gunners.
Signal of mindset from Mikel Arteta, he just wants to see this game out now.
Spurs need to start testing David Raya if they are to get anything from this game.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
74. It is end-to-end stuff at The Emirates now.
With Arsenal having failed to put this game to bed, it could be a nervy ending to this game.
Sooner or later Spurs are going to have to throw caution to the wind a little more.