Arsenal claimed a crucial 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the North London derby, with manager Mikel Arteta's celebrations reflecting both relief and determination as his team reignited their Premier League title hopes.
The win came at a critical moment for Arsenal, following disappointing home defeats in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. The significance of the victory was evident in the passionate post-match scenes, with Gabriel throwing his shirt into the crowd as Arsenal moved within four points of league leaders Liverpool, albeit having played an extra game.
Despite dominating possession, Arsenal's path to victory wasn't straightforward. They fell behind to Son Heung-min's 25th-minute opener before staging a comeback through a Dominic Solanke own goal from a controversial corner and Leandro Trossard's winner - a shot that Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky should have saved.
The match highlighted Arsenal's ongoing need for a clinical striker. As midfielder Declan Rice told BBC Radio 5 Live, "We're probably unlucky we didn't score 10 tonight." However, the statistics tell a different story, with the Gunners managing just four shots on target from 14 attempts. The situation has become more urgent with Bukayo Saka sidelined after hamstring surgery and Gabriel Jesus facing knee surgery.
One bright spot was the exceptional performance of 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who earned a standing ovation for his commanding display. "He was phenomenal," Arteta told BBC Sport. "He is a real personality. He has so much trust in himself." Rice echoed these sentiments, describing the young player's performance as "unbelievable" and praising his fearless approach.
Arteta acknowledged the importance of the victory while emphasizing the need for reinforcement. "We are actively looking and we will try to do something. Let's see what we can get," he said regarding potential striker signings. The manager praised his team's resilience, noting, "The attitude we played with, not feeling sorry for ourselves, was phenomenal. We played 120 minutes three days ago."
As Arsenal prepare for their next challenge against Aston Villa, the message is clear: this derby victory must serve as a catalyst for both their title challenge and their search for a clinical finisher who can turn dominance into goals.
"We know how important this game was and is. It's a gift with which we can make our supporters happy," Arteta concluded. Now, the focus turns to delivering an even more significant gift - a striker who can transform this victory into sustained title momentum.
