Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes scored Arsenal’s winning goal at Tottenham Hotspur. EFE/EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Photo: EFE – DAVID CLIFF
A Gabriel Magalhaes header from a corner sealed a low-key north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur that leaves the Gunners as Manchester City’s closest pursuers in the Premier League.
In a game that was more about clashes, with seven yellow cards in the first half and in which goal-scoring opportunities were conspicuous by their absence, a header from Gabriel after a corner in the 64th minute served to give Arsenal the third consecutive year of the most important derby in London.
The Brazilian’s solitary goal, helped by a ‘Cuti’ Romero who lost his mark and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who has many problems in the air and who finds it difficult to get out of the cave, broke the monotony of a match in which both teams were more concerned with not losing than winning.
The dominance of the match changed; first Arsenal got better and then Tottenham had more control, but neither Vicario nor Raya had to make any major interventions.
There was a fight over a Timber foul that could have been a red card, and little else that triggered a game that had averaged more than three goals in the last four years.
But it was not until the 64th minute when Bukayo Saka put in a tight corner, looking to tickle Vicario and he was caught in front of a screen of footballers. With the goalkeeper in a deadlock and Romero having lost track of Gabriel, the Brazilian stood on the edge of the six-yard box and headed home.
Arsenal take advantage of set pieces
Since Arsenal signed set-piece boss Nicolas Jover in 2021, they have scored 42 goals from set pieces, more than any other team in the big five leagues.
That chess move was worth the three points. Arsenal, despite the pressure and the factor of playing at home, were unable to generate any brilliance up front and barely threatened Raya with a couple of shots at the dummy.
The discontent among Spurs fans was palpable, not only because they lost the derby against their biggest rivals but also because they have already dropped eight points in four games. In this start to the season, Tottenham have lost to Newcastle United and Arsenal, drawn with Leicester City and won against Everton. These are numbers that make it impossible to compete for the Premier League.
Arsenal move up to second place with ten points out of a possible twelve and are now the main alternative to Manchester City, who have a full twelve out of a possible twelve after their victory over Brentford.
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