ARSENAL cannot hit a barn door – but they have somehow given Liverpool something to think about in this Premier League title race.
The Gunners displayed yet more of their attacking frailties in a North London Derby bereft of much quality or spark.
Fourteen shots against Tottenham and just one 40th minute goal from Leandro Trossard, and another – a Dominic Solanke own goal – from a corner that should never have been given.
It cancelled out Heung-Min Son’s deflected 25th minute opener that briefly sent shivers down the spines of a nail-biting Emirates.
The gap at the top is now just four points to Arne Slot’s fumbling Reds, who still have that game in hand. Arsenal continue to trip over their own feet, but moving forward they continue to do.
If Mikel Arteta’s men can cling on like this playing this averagely, just imagine the sort of run they can put together when Bukayo Saka makes his hero’s return from a hamstring injury.
Not that Ange Postecoglou’s injury-plagued Spurs put up much of a fight, now just eight points off the bottom three in 13th without a win in their last five league games.
After being taken to extra-time by part-timers Tamworth in the FA Cup, Ange ripped up his starting XI with four changes, bringing back old faithfuls Son, Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski.
Arteta went one better with five changes – Declan Rice and Thomas Partey returned to the midfield while Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling sandwiched Kai Havertz up top.
Clearly, this was not an attacking threesome brimming with confidence. Sterling was making just his third Prem start since joining the club – his last coming in October in a defeat to Bournemouth.
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Havertz lead the line again despite still being shaken by the vile abuse his pregnant wife received on Instagram in the wake of his shoot-out miss in the shoot-out loss to Manchester United.
Gabriel Jesus ruptured his ACL in that FA Cup third round exit, joining Saka in the medical room – the England star watched his side warm-up from the sidelines on crutches as he recovers from hamstring surgery.
The Arsenal players walked onto the pitch donning a shirt with his name and No.9 on the back with the message ‘Stay Strong Gabby’.
And the hosts started strong, sticking to the script of their last two outings – producing 49 shots and one goal – of dominating proceedings, wasting half-chances before giving the opposition hope.
Inside a fizzing and crackling atmosphere at the Emirates, Havertz went into full derby-mode straight away, flying in with a sliding tackle as Myles Lewis-Skelly nearly put in Sterling through the middle.
Then came the set-pieces. Three corners inside the ten minutes was a real test for this put-together Spurs back four, but they dealt with it well, especially new keeper Antonin Kinsky.
Martin Odegaard crossed for Rice at the far post and Trossard had an attempt blocked by Archie Gray.
Ange was left frustrated by ref Simon Hooper with a few 50-50 fouls, but in truth, this young Spurs group were getting battered and bullied by Arsenal’s burly giants.
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Kinsky started to look nervy, charged down by an onrushing Havertz before smothering well. The Czech then nearly did the same way out of his box minutes later.
But the tide was turning. Djed Spence stormed down the left and with the outside of his boot picked out Solanke but for a brilliant Gabriel interception.
Arsenal were ragged and loose. Pape Sarr was allowed to run over 60 yards to win a corner, and from there, the visitors pounced with an unlikely but completely inevitable opener.
Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham
By Dan King
ARSENAL came from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 in the North London derby.
Son Heung-Min had given the visitors the lead in the 25th minute against the run of play.
But as they have done so often, the Gunners scored from a corner as Gabriel Magalhaes‘ header was bundled in as an own goal by Dominic Solanke.
Leandro Trossard then put the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time with an fine finish.
Here’s how the players rated…
David Raya – 6
Spectator until kept out Kulusevski shot midway through first half, then beaten by deflection for Son goal. Didn’t make a save in second half.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Solid enough defensively to keep Son Heung-Min mostly quiet but less sure of himself going forward, wasting good chances to cross.
William Saliba – 6
Untroubled until Son’s shot went in off him. Started second half hesitantly but kept his concentration to minimise Tottenham openings.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 8
Brilliant interception to deny Solanke then decisive at other end to force equaliser. Excellent against Solanke twice more in calm and steadfast second half.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8
Fine pass to play in Sterling set tone for excellent, mature, all-round display from second youngest Arsenal player to start a North London derby.
Thomas Partey – 7
Strong presence who won the ball back well, not least ahead of Arsenal’s second goal. But sometimes looked vulnerable to Spurs’ pace on break.
Declan Rice – 7
Covered lots of ground and finally found a good set-piece delivery to create equaliser. Still not quite at his best, but much closer.
Raheem Sterling – 5
Saw plenty of ball, but with little end product, including golden chances at start of both halves. Curiously reluctant to take on his man. Deservedly hooked.
Martin Odegaard – 6
Prompted and probed without finding killer pass but released Trossard for second goal. Missed chance to make it 3-1, fewer signs of return to form than Rice.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Frustrated home fans with lack of killer instinct and poor decisions until he fired Arsenal in front. Did little after break to merit staying on for so long.
Kai Havertz – 4
Barely involved first half apart from nicking ball off Spurs keeper Kinsky. Headed wide from close range early in second. Nothing coming off for him.
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Gabriel Martinelli (for Sterling, 61) – 5
Slow to get up to speed and contributed little apart from one penetrating run into the box and a blocked shot.
Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 77) – 6
Brought on to shore things up and did it well enough.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly, 87) – 6
Useful legs for dying minutes, almost created chance.
Mikel Merino (for Rice, 87) – 6
Good booking to stop Solanke getting away in stoppage time.
Gabriel headed away a short corner to Son, so unmarked that he was able to watch the looping ball onto his boot and cushion a shot off the foot of William Saliba and past a helpless David Raya.
Son shushed the crowd, and the home supporters obliged, collapsing into nervy silence.
Yet the answer came from Arsenal’s seventh corner of the game. Rice’s in-swinger targeted the far post.
Kinsky on this occasion was blocked and Gabriel evaded Radu Dragusin to nod in off Solanke.
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It should not have counted of course. Trossard’s cross bounced off Pedro Porro and back onto the leg of the winger before trickling out.
Ange was seething. He also felt Sarr had been fouled by Lewis-Skelly in the build-up.
Ex-Prem referee Mark Halsey’s view
SPURS will be fuming over the corner which led to Arsenal’s equaliser.
I felt it was a clear goal kick when Leandro Trossard’s cross came off Pedro Porro and back off the Gunners wideman before the ball went out of play.
Referee Simon Hooper must have lost concentration because he was in a great position and looking straight at the ball.
Hooper was on that side of the field unlike his assistant and a referee at that level should be seeing it.
Arsenal took full advantage and levelled at 1-1 from the resulting corner when Gabriel’s header went in off Dominic Solanke.
It was a turning point in the match and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has had a few decisions go against him so this will not improve his mood.
Four minutes later, Yves Bissouma then lost the ball in his own half to Partey.
Odegaard broke and fed Trossard, that tricky little Belgian involved again, this time doing what his teammates have not done in a long time: whack a ball towards goal with anger and see what happens.
It smacked the side-netting through a weak, flappy Kinsky wrist and Trossard celebrated by cupping his ears to an unwelcoming away end.
Surprisingly, but not really, Ange went for broke at the break. James Maddison and Brennan Johnson were thrown on leaving his side top heavy and exposed.
It led to a disjointed, end-to-end second half, like two groggy boxers throwing biggun’s without really landing anything.
Havertz had a header straight at Kinsky and Odegaard missed a sitter late on. Spurs had a few decent counters that left Raya unmoved.
Arsenal, incredibly, are still alive. Spurs’ season is on life support.
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