Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1: Alderweireld scores comeback winner as dodgy defence leads to Gunners’ misfire in derby
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD headed a late winner as Tottenham leapt above Arsenal in the local squabble for North London supremacy.
Even without the passion and fury of a derby-day crowd, and with nothing to play for other than Europa League qualification, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho needed this.
After some depressing performances either side of lockdown, Mourinho presided over a more positive Spurs display as they fought back from behind to defeat Mikel Arteta’s side and replaced them in eighth-place in the Premier League.
For the first time in 23 years there will be no Champions League football in London next season.
And you have to wonder whether elite European football is going to return to this manor any time soon.
Yet Spurs fans would not have been worried too much about the long-term prognosis – defeating the Arsenal was the perfect result to lift the gloom from their club.
Arteta’s side had still harboured outside hopes of Champions League qualification until they threw away a lead against Leicester on Tuesday.
And here again they allowed a lead to slip – Alexandre Lacazette’s early corker, swiftly cancelled out by a Son Heung-min equaliser just three minutes later, following a blunder from Sead Kolasinac.
Arsenal may have dominated possession but Spurs carved out as many clear-cut chances – as they shed their recent negativity.
The first North London derby at the new Lane was not what Tottenham would have imagined it to be when they flung open the doors to their palatial new residence – a six-pointer for Europa League qualification played behind closed doors.
Spurs, with just two wins from their previous 11 games, had failed to even register a shot on target in Thursday’s goalless draw at Bournemouth.
Yet they managed to test Emiliano Martinez within 15 seconds here, when David Luiz’s customary early error allowed Lucas Moura to shoot, the Argentinian keeper saving comfortably.
Mourinho had switched to a 4-4-2 – Son Heung-Min shoved forward alongside Kane – and there was more positivity and intent about them.
Kane, with ten goals in 11 previous derbies against Arsenal, was fed by Moura and almost lobbed Martinez.
Yet despite that early pressure, it was Arsenal who seized the lead – Serge Aurier twice losing possession in quick succession, the second time Granit Xhaka feeding Lacazette to bend home a belter from 20 yards.
Yet the lead lasted just three minutes, a shocking pass from Sead Kolasinac, aimed at Luiz, allowed Son to slip in and lifted coolly over a diving Martinez.
It was typical of Arsenal’s absent-minded attempts to pass out from the back.
But it was the sort of match which deserved an audience – end-to-end, breathless and Ben Davies clattered a shot against the bar from 30 yards, then Nicolas Pepe bent one just wide for Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was narrowly off target with a free-kick.
After the break, a return to the cautious Spurs we have become accustomed to, with Arsenal dominating possession and Mourinho’s men retreating into their defensive shell.
Just before the hour, a probing move ended with Lacazette feeding Aubameyang, who cut inside and rattled the crossbar.
On the break, Kane bullied Mustafi, reached the byline and fed Son who could not get a shot away.
Lloris saved at full stretch from Aubameyang but then Martinez advanced to block a Kane effort.
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And from the resulting Son corner, Alderweireld leapt highest at the near post to thump home a header.
Kane skinned Mustafi and Martinez saved well soon after.
Even if Mourinho might not fancy Thursday-night football next season, he needed this.
For Arsenal, there may now be no European competition at all.