Arsenal extended their impressive run in the North London derby with a 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, marking their third consecutive win at their rivals’ ground. Gabriel Magalhães’ powerful header in the second half was the difference-maker, bringing the Gunners within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Despite being sidelined with seven key players, including captain Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta’s squad put on a resilient performance in the season’s first North London derby. The match was fiercely contested, but Gabriel’s goal, which came from a pinpoint Bukayo Saka corner, proved crucial.
Here’s a rundown of Arsenal’s player performances:
- David Raya (8/10): Delivered a series of important early saves as Spurs came out strong. Showed great confidence in handling crosses and was solid throughout.
- Ben White (7/10): Engaged in a challenging duel with Son, who managed to outmaneuver him at times. Nevertheless, White remained committed and performed admirably.
- William Saliba (8/10): Provided a standout defensive performance with a crucial block against Dominic Solanke in the first half. Handled the pressure well alongside Gabriel in the latter part of the game.
- Gabriel Magalhães (9/10): Scored the game-winning header in the second half and made several key defensive interventions. His performance was crucial in securing the win.
- Jurrien Timber (8/10): Delivered his best showing in an Arsenal kit to date, with relentless energy and embodiment of the team’s spirit despite key absences.
- Jorginho (7/10): Surprised by advancing more than expected. Put in a solid first-half performance, though he faced some difficulty as Spurs ramped up the pressure after halftime. He worked diligently and finished strong.
- Thomas Partey (7/10): Had limited influence on the ball and took some early risks. Played a more conservative role in the second half, focusing on protecting the defense. Overall, solid.
- Kai Havertz (8/10): Excelled in a deeper position, showing significant effort and causing problems for Van de Ven. Delivered another strong performance.
- Bukayo Saka (7/10): Was a threat on the counterattack and provided an exceptional set-piece delivery for Gabriel’s goal, becoming only the fourth player to register an assist in each of the season’s first four matches. Also supported defensively.
- Leandro Trossard (5/10): Found it difficult to influence the game and took risks with possession. Arsenal could have benefited from more impact from him.
- Gabriel Martinelli (7/10): Set up a good opportunity for Havertz and had a shot saved. His attacking runs caused issues for Porro and contributed positively.
Arsenal held firm against Tottenham’s late attempts to break their defense and secured a valuable win.