Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League stretched to eight points thanks to a 2-0 win on Sunday, over North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a sweet, sweet victory for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners who are now in the box seat for a long awaited title, and it was fully deserved as a Hugo Lloris own goal and a Martin Odegaard pile-driver made it 2-0 by the break. Arsenal dug in during the second half and the result was rarely in doubt as the Gunners had a near perfect weekend.
My SBOTOP colleague, James, enjoyed a super Saturday as his beloved Red Devils won the Manchester Derby. One of the outcomes of Manchester United’s famous victory was that the Premier League 2023 betting odds were nudged closer to a Gunners title and Arteta’s boys took full advantage, while Antonio Conte’s Spurs now have an uphill battle to win a Champions League place.
Highlights of the game
Sometimes it’s just not your day; and for Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris this was one of those occasions as he gifted the visitors a goal on just 16 minutes. Lloris is a great player for France and has been Tottenham’s last line of defence for a decade but he had a moment to forget early in the game. Arsenal started brightly and Bukayo Saka had plenty of joy down the right, and when he fired a cross in it’s hard to work out what Lloris was trying to do.
Was the trying to parry the ball away or catch it?
Only Lloris will know but the ball squirted through his hands and diverted into the goal to give the league leaders a vital lead.
Arsenal dominated throughout the first half and could have been out of sight by the break. Thomas Partey rattled the upright with a beautifully hit shot on 25 minutes and Lloris made a strong save from Odegaard; but there was little the Spurs stopper could do when the Norwegian fired a sweetly hit shot just inside the right hand post from around 25 yards.
There were a few boos ringing around the stadium at the break but before this game Spurs had picked up 14 points this season after going behind, and that was the hope the Tottenham fans were clinging to. And five minutes into the second half they showed mote intent than the entire first half as Harry Kane forced a good save from Aaron Ramsdale and then the Gunners’ keeper was alert again to stop an effort from Ryan Sessegnon.
Arsenal had a great chance to put the game to bed on 69 minutes when Saka curled a cross over to Eddie Nketiah, but the striker’s first touch was sloppy and Lloris was able to keep out his shot. But the Gunners saw the game out in relative comfort.
Key statistics
Arsenal had a big chance to open a very useful gap at the top of the table and they took it against their fiercest rivals. They have passed a big test here, dominating the first half and managing the game well in the second. They have now taken 32 points from the last 36 available.
The last time Arsenal were leading 2-0 away to Spurs at half time the game finished 2-2 and the Gunners ended up winning the league. Well Spurs failed to comeback this time but maybe Arsenal are on the way to winning the title once again.
Lloris’ own goal was his first in 354 Premier League games and Arsenal is the very last team he would want to gift a goal to.
What’s next?
Fans in Manchester and Newcastle joined the London legions in anxiously watching out for the Premier League 2023 updates as they flowed from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Magpies beat Fulham in the 2pm kickoff and that took them on to 38 points and into third place, and now five points clear of fifth placed Tottenham.
Next up; fourth placed Manchester United are in action again on Wednesday when they visit Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace and they can move into second place with a win. But the games keep coming thick and fast and Tottenham visit Manchester City on Thursday, before Arsenal host Manchester United next Sunday.
Then the action continues with another London Derby when Spurs head west to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday 23rd January.
The English league moves at a breathtaking pace but, for now, Arsenal can take a moment to appreciate their eight point lead at the top of the table, and that sounds just fine for Gunners fans.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
