Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a heated north London derby on Sunday, thanks to a solitary goal from Gabriel. The win extends Arsenal's unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches and moves them up to 11th in the standings, while Tottenham remain in eighth place.
The Emirates Stadium was the stage for a highly anticipated clash between the two north London rivals, and the atmosphere was electric from the start. Both sides showed their intent to attack early on, but it was Arsenal who gradually took control of possession.
Arsenal's dominance was rewarded in the 21st minute when Gabriel rose highest to head home a corner from Bukayo Saka. The Brazilian defender's powerful header gave Hugo Lloris no chance in the Tottenham goal.
Arsenal Edge Tottenham in Tense North London Derby
Tottenham responded well to the setback and created several decent chances to equalize. Son Heung-min twice came close to scoring, but his efforts were kept out by Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal.
The second half was a more cagey affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Tottenham pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Arsenal's defense stood firm.
The match was marred by several incidents of violence, including a confrontation between Richarlison and Gabriel. The Tottenham forward was booked for his challenge on the Brazilian, while Gabriel was cautioned for retaliating.
Arsenal also had Rob Holding sent off in the closing stages for a second bookable offense. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Arsenal held on for the victory, thanks in part to a string of saves from Ramsdale.
The win extends Arsenal's unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches and moves them up to 11th in the standings. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain in eighth place after suffering their second defeat of the season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with his team's performance, saying: "I'm very proud of the way we played today. We showed great character and resilience to get the win against a tough opponent."
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte was disappointed with the result, but he refused to criticize his players, saying: "We gave it our all today, but it wasn't enough. Arsenal deserved to win."
The north London derby is always a fiercely contested affair, and this latest edition was no different. Arsenal emerged victorious on this occasion, but Tottenham will be hoping to get their revenge when the two sides meet again in the FA Cup in March.
