Gabriel goal gives Arsenal victory over Tottenham in North London derby

Arsenal triumphed in a heated north London derby, with Gabriel’s second-half header securing a crucial win over Tottenham.

The Gunners, missing captain Martin Odegaard and key midfielder Declan Rice due to injury and suspension, withstood a tough challenge from Ange Postecoglou’s side, igniting celebrations at the final whistle.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya shone early on with crucial saves against Dejan Kulusevski, while Spurs’ Guglielmo Vicario made an impressive stop from Kai Havertz’s header.

Tensions flared before halftime as players clashed following Jurien Timber’s tackle on Pedro Porro, setting the tone for a tense second half.

Gabriel made the decisive impact in the 64th minute, rising above Cristian Romero to head Bukayo Saka’s corner past Vicario.

The victory was especially sweet for Arsenal, achieved without Odegaard and Rice, and sets the stage for their upcoming clash against champions Manchester City.

Arsenal show steel in derby triumph

The Gunners endured challenging moments in a tense, occasionally heated match but, much like their earlier display against Aston Villa this season, they showed resilience and determination to stay in the game before Gabriel’s powerful header secured the win.

Arsenal defended resolutely to see out the three points, with match-winner Gabriel and goalkeeper David Raya putting in standout performances as Spurs eventually ran out of ideas.

In the Premier League, where Manchester City’s dominance makes every match critical, Arsenal’s win was especially significant after their draw with Brighton.

The result gains added importance as they prepare to face the champions in their next fixture.

Manager Mikel Arteta will take particular satisfaction in how his side coped without the presence of key figures Odegaard and Rice, a fact reflected in the jubilant celebrations from the players, staff, and fans at the final whistle.

Spurs fall short once more

Tottenham’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced, costing them the chance to make a statement against a weakened Arsenal in front of their home crowd.

Their struggles were evident once again in defending set-pieces, a recurring issue under Ange Postecoglou. Last season, excluding penalties, Spurs allowed 16 goals from set-pieces out of 54 conceded—23 out of 61 if penalties are included.

Postecoglou has appeared unconcerned by this vulnerability, but another defeat from a poorly defended corner should prompt serious reflection, as three of Arsenal’s last four goals against Spurs have come from set plays.

In the broader scope, Spurs showed promise early on, but as the game progressed, their decision-making faltered, and they failed to capitalize on promising positions.

This left a growing sense that Arsenal would exploit their errors, which they ultimately did, frustrating Spurs fans who had created a vibrant atmosphere as their team started with energy but lacked a finishing touch.

For Postecoglou and his players, this was a bitterly disappointing outcome.

With key Arsenal players missing, it was a prime opportunity for Spurs to make their mark, but they fell short once again, leaving them with just one win from their first four league matches.