Arsenal bounce Tottenham to move eight points clear

Ryan Fisher

Arsenal won away at Tottenham for the first time since 2014AFP

Arsenal ended an eight-game winless run away at Tottenham Hotspur, as they cruised to a 2-0 win in the 193rd North London Derby. The Gunners moved eight points clear at the Premier League (PL) summit, with a result that also saw them complete the double over their arch-rivals for the first time since 2014.

Mikel Arteta was the captain of the last Arsenal team to win on Spurs soil, and he masterminded a perfect first-half display where his men completely outclassed the hosts.

Seeds of doubt were planted early when Tottenham were caught out in possession in their own third, forcing Hugo Lloris to deny Eddie Nketiah.

There would be no such reprieve moments later though, as the goalkeeper produced another blunder as he looped Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net.

Antonio Conte simply had no answer for the pressure his team was facing, and Martin Ødegaard’s effort from range brought a save from Lloris, before a rocket on the volley from Thomas Partey cannoned off the woodwork.

Having found his range, Arsenal’s Norwegian captain hit the target before the break to double their advantage, as he drilled into the bottom corner from outside the area, and left Spurs needing another rousing second-half performance.

If the most unlikely of comebacks was to unfold, the leading scorer in the history of this fixture, Harry Kane, was surely the man to spearhead it.

After forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a low save before the interval, he fired higher towards goal after the restart but his England colleague was again equal to it.

Ramsdale continued his heroics moments later, as he denied Ryan Sessegnon from the inside left after the wing-back was slipped in by Kane.

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane vies with Arsenal's midfielder Granit XhakaAFP

After a frantic opening to the second period, Arsenal regained control and ought to have put the game to bed when Granit Xhaka slotted in Nketiah, but Lloris stood firm to deny him.

Perhaps the biggest difference in the Gunners this term has been their ability to cope under pressure, something which was evident as they comfortably saw out the final stages to secure a huge victory.

A first PL title since the famous ‘invincible’ season of 2003/04 becomes an ever-more realistic possibility, while Spurs remain five points adrift of the UEFA Champions League spots.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)