Arsenal Hold Off Tottenham in Thrilling North London Derby

Gunners Extend Premier League Lead with 3-2 Victory

WEB Ball in the Corner - But Not for Long

Arsenal emerged victorious in a pulsating North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, prevailing 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners extended their lead at the summit of the Premier League table to four points with an emphatic first-half performance followed by a resolute defensive effort in the second half.

Saka's Penalty Seals Hard-Fought Win

Tottenham drew level twice in the match, but Arsenal's resilience and quality ultimately proved decisive. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 54th minute after Son Heung-Min had equalized for the visitors just before halftime. Gabriel Martinelli restored Arsenal's advantage in the 55th minute, and Granit Xhaka's goal in the 67th minute gave the Gunners a seemingly comfortable lead.

Tottenham's Late Push Falls Short

However, Tottenham refused to go down without a fight. Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs in the 81st minute, setting up a tense finish. Despite a late onslaught from the visitors, Arsenal's defense held firm, preserving their three points and extending their impressive winning streak.

Arteta Praises Team's Character

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team's fighting spirit after the match. "We showed great character and resilience tonight," he said. "We knew it would be a tough game, but we stuck to our game plan and managed to get the result we wanted." Tottenham boss Antonio Conte admitted that his team had been outplayed in the first half but was proud of their second-half performance. "We made some mistakes in the first half, but we showed great spirit in the second half," he said. "We had our chances to equalize, but it wasn't to be."