Leader Arsenal placed on a masterclass to overwhelm shell-shocked north London rival Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 away and prolong the hole on the prime of the Premier League to eight factors on Sunday.
The Gunners flew out of the blocks from the opening whistle and constructed a first-half lead by means of a slipshod personal objective by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris and a chic strike from Martin Odegaard.
Tottenham was completely outplayed by a fired-up Arsenal facet below Mikel Arteta which was decided to make amends for a loss at Spurs final season that finally price it a top-four place.
It dominated the primary half and battled gamely within the second, leaving Tottenham boss Antonio Conte wanting glum on the sidelines as he clapped his fingers to rally his sorry facet.
Striker Harry Kane, needing yet another objective to equal Jimmy Greaves all-time Spurs’ scoring report, had possibilities both facet of the break however keeper Aaron Ramsdale was equal to them.
“It is about time. It felt amazing,” Arsenal captain Odegaard informed Sky Sports. “We remembered what happened here last time and we wanted to play a better game and show a different side to us. We enjoyed the game.”
The win places Arsenal on 47 factors from 18 video games forward of Manchester City on 39, with Newcastle United, which has performed a sport extra, and Manchester United an additional level again.
Spurs are in fifth place with 33 factors from 19 matches.
CLEAR CHANCE
Arsenal had the primary clear likelihood after seven minutes when Eddie Nketiah’s shot was properly saved by the diving Lloris.
It took the lead seven minutes later when Bukayo Saka crossed from the fitting and Lloris fumbled the ball into his personal internet for the primary time in his 354-game Premier League profession.
Arsenal was in nearly complete management and Odegaard almost put the guests additional forward with a rasping long-range drive that Frenchman Lloris tipped around the publish.
Thomas Partey then got here even nearer with a fierce volley from simply exterior the world that crashed in opposition to the publish.
But Arsenal did stretch its lead within the thirty sixth by means of Odegaard’s exact shot into the nook previous a helpless Lloris.
Spurs customary a uncommon likelihood simply earlier than the break when Kane’s glancing header was turned away by Ramsdale on the close to publish after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s cross from the fitting.
Kane then pressured one other effective save from Ramsdale after halftime because the hosts tried to get again within the sport.
But regardless of all of the huffing and puffing, Tottenham couldn’t discover a approach by means of and it was the guests who almost scored once more within the 69th when Saka’s close-range effort was saved.
The victory meant Arsenal loved its first league double over Spurs because the 2013-14 season and, extra importantly, put it firmly answerable for the title race.
“We are in a good position, there is no doubt about that,” added Odegaard. “We’ve got to stay humble and keep working hard. You saw the difference in the first and second half today so we have things to improve. We have to keep going.”