Premier League: Arsenal beat Tottenham to go eight points clear at the top: Chelsea back to winning ways
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points after a 2-0 win over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby as Chelsea eased the pressure on manager Graham Potter by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday.
Hugo Lloris’s own goal and a sublime Martin Odegaard strike did the damage before the break, and while Spurs bettered their game in the second half, Mikel Arteta’s side never looked in any real danger of losing their comfortable cushion.
Having previously never lost to Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs had history on their side in North London, but those results proved futile.
A long pass from Thomas Partey released Bukayo Saka down the right, and the attacker cut onto his right foot before sending in a cross close to Lloris, who flapped at the ball and surprisingly directed it into the back of the net.
Another high-profile error from the Tottenham number one gave Arsenal a merited lead, although Tottenham were not totally camped in their own half, and Son Heung-min forced Aaron Ramsdale into a good save down low in the 18th minute.
However, normal service resumed not long after, as Odegaard’s long-range strike was beaten away by Lloris in the 22nd minute before Partey’s astonishing volley rattled the post three minutes later.
Refusing to enter the break with just the one goal to their name, Arsenal would deservedly double their lead in the 36th minute, as Odegaard was given ample time and space to pick out the far corner with a strike from 25 yards.
Despite possessing a seemingly comfortable cushion, Arsenal survived a minor scare just before the break as Ramsdale kept out Harry Kane’s header at the near post, and the Arsenal number one was a busy man at the start of the second period.
After beating away Kane’s effort in the 50th minute, Ramsdale stuck out a foot to prevent Ryan Sessegnon from finding the far corner from a tight angle two minutes later, as Conte’s second-half specialists demonstrated a spark that was totally absent in the opening exchanges.
Arteta’s men survived the brief Tottenham onslaught and arguably should have been out of sight in the 69th minute, but Lloris saved comfortably from Nketiah, whose poor touch made the chance more difficult than it should have been.
Granit Xhaka blazed a free kick over the bar in the 79th minute as Arsenal regained control heading into the dying embers, although Tottenham soon began to pile on the pressure again as the clock ticked into the final few minutes.
Unsavoury scenes overshadowed the game at the end as Richarlison and Ramsdale were involved in a heated exchange before a fan kicked the Arsenal goalkeeper – leading to a large fracas – but Arteta soon directed his players over to the travelling crowd as those in red and white erupted into pandemonium.
Arsenal host Manchester United in their next top-flight contest on Sunday, while Tottenham tackle Man City on Thursday.
Kai Havertz scored the winner for Chelsea with a towering second-half header,making the breakthrough as he rose highest to power home Hakim Ziyech’s cross from a well-worked corner on 64 minutes.
Despite a much-needed win, Chelsea remain 10 points off the top four after Newcastle kept their title dreams alive at St James’ Park.
Newcastle took full advantage as club-record signing Alexander Isak came off the bench to head in the winner a minute from time.
Isak has now scored three goals in four Premier League appearances, but his last came back in September due to injury.
The victory takes Newcastle back above Manchester United into third in the table on goal difference.
