Trossard’s goal gives the Gunners a derby victory
Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham in a thrilling north London derby at the Emirates.
The game started as many expected, with Arsenal asserting their dominance from the opening whistle.
Spurs struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity, with Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard constantly causing problems. But despite Arsenal’s early pressure and a series of corners, it was Tottenham who struck first.
Heung-Min Son made the breakthrough in the 25th minute. After Arsenal’s failed defensive attempt, the Spurs captain pounced on the loose ball and deflected a deflected strike that wrong-footed goalkeeper David Raya.
It was Son’s sixth league goal of the season and a reminder of his outstanding performance in big games.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just 15 minutes later, Arsenal equalized from a set piece.
Gabriel rose highest to meet Odegaard’s corner and his header bounced off Dominic Solanke and into the net, resulting in an own goal.
Full time. pic.twitter.com/7aoQM1Kizo
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 15, 2025
The Emirates broke out and the momentum swung in the Gunners’ favor.
A few moments later, Arsenal completed the turnaround. On a quick counter-attack, Odegaard picked out Trossard with a perfectly balanced pass down the left flank.
The Belgian burst into the penalty area and unleashed a low, powerful shot that flew past Spurs’ young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Tottenham made attacking changes, bringing in James Maddison and Brennan Johnson to get back into the game.
Despite having more possession as the game progressed, Spurs struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Their best chance came in stoppage time when Pedro Porro hit the outside post with a powerful shot from a tight angle in the final seconds.
Arsenal remained dangerous on the counterattack, forcing Kinsky to make some impressive saves to keep the score respectable.
Mikel Arteta’s side handled the closing stages skillfully, with experienced substitutes Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mikel Merino providing greater control.
The final whistle confirmed the important three points for the Gunners, who are now only four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
It was another frustrating game for Spurs at the Emirates. Ange Postecoglou’s side showed promise but were ultimately undone by defensive errors and a lack of assertiveness in the final third.
