Arsenal ensured they remained top of the Premier League for another week as they beat arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the North London Derby on Saturday, handing the Lilywhites their first league defeat of the season in the process.
A mouthwatering strike from Thomas Partey was cancelled out by a Harry Kane penalty to ensure proceedings were level going into half time. However, goals from Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka either side of an Emerson Royal red card secured the victory for Mikel Arteta's men who still sit at the summit, one point clear of Manchester City.
Plenty of American media outlets covered the North London Derby over the weekend. Here is a round-up of what they had to say:
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James Olley, via ESPN
"Tottenham beat Arsenal 3-0 in May in a result that went a long way to ensuring Spurs pipped their north London rivals for a Champions League spot, but the Gunners gained a measure of revenge Saturday with a commanding win at Emirates Stadium.
"In doing so, Arsenal extended their stay at the top of the Premier League and struck an early blow in the race between these sides to prove they are ready to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the title. For the most part, they also avoided the same mistakes as when losing at Manchester United in a similar sort of game. They controlled the match for long periods but lost to goals on the counter-attack at Old Trafford whereas here, they were able to dictate terms for longer spells against Spurs and thoroughly deserved the win.
"The pattern of this game was predictable from the outset: Arsenal would dominate possession and territory while Spurs would aim to stay compact, soak up pressure and hit on the break. Tottenham have won multiple matches without playing well this season, staying in games before their attacking talent comes to the fore, and it appeared for a while that would be the case here as Arsenal dominated the opening half hour before a rare breakaway saw Gabriel bring down Richarlison in the box. Kane converted from the spot but individual errors were Tottenham's undoing.
"Lloris made two mistakes in a matter of seconds, pushing Bukayo Saka's tame 49th-minute shot straight out in front of him and then allowing the loose ball to squirm under him as Clement Lenglet struggled to clear, allowing Jesus a tap-in. And then Royal was dismissed for a poor tackle on Martinelli -- more foolish than malicious -- giving Arsenal the numerical advantage to see this out comfortably. Regardless, Spurs may regret not being a little more adventurous earlier on."
Joe Prince-Wright, via NBC
"After missing the last few games through injury, this display summed up how important [Thomas] Partey and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko are to Arsenal. Partey broke up play masterfully and never allowed Spurs to dictate the tempo of the game. Zinchenko’s runs into midfield from left back bamboozled Spurs and his tactical flexibility and calmness on the ball is a joy to watch. Their leadership flows through every part of this team and when everyone is fit, this is a very balanced, young, exciting squad.
"There is something special brewing at Arsenal. This run of wins to start the season should surprise nobody. After spending wisely on quality players this summer, this finally feels like Mikel Arteta’s side and it has felt that way since day one of preseason. Even after the disappointment of just missing out on Champions League qualification to Tottenham at the end of last season, Arsenal were heading in the right direction. They have been for some time and this start to the season will give them the confidence and belief they can fight for trophies and maybe, just maybe, have an outside chance of challenging for the title.
"Even though Spurs went into this game as one of only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League so far this season, they haven’t played that well. They are clunky in possession, lack creativity in the final third and have relied on Kane, Son and Richarlison to finish off chances on the counter. That tactics clicked in a few times but with that trio starting together from the off, the balance just wasn’t right and Conte’s side couldn’t keep the ball well enough or link together in the final third. The good news is Spurs have still had a decent start to the season without hitting their stride at all. Emerson Royal’s sending off was a little harsh but Spurs deserved nothing from this game as Conte is still trying to get the balance right."
Jonathan Wilson, via Sports Illustrated
"Last season, Arsenal won just three of 10 games against the rest of the Big Six. Its first game against a top side this season, away at Manchester United, provided ammunition for both sides of the debate. It played well in long patches, but still lost. There were few questions about ability, but major concerns about application. But in Saturday’s derby, under pressure, Arsenal found a resilience to go along with its pleasing attacking patterns.
"Arsenal’s biggest hurdle, it has seemed for a number of seasons, is itself. It has not dealt well with adversity, which is why its record against the best sides is so poor. With little capacity to fight, a small differential in quality can lead to a big differential of outcome. Past Arsenals might have wilted upon Kane’s equalizer, but this side has shown hints this season that it is developing a backbone.
"It was what followed, though, that was truly impressive. Arsenal controlled the game, was rather better at holding possession than it had been in the first half, and took a decisive grasp of the match when Royal was sent off for an ugly stamp on Martinelli after 62 minutes. Royal is a player who has divided opinion for some time but his supporters are dwindling by the day. He has always been a clumsy player, defined more by energy and effort than by subtlety, but he was badly exposed defensively by Martinelli, his foul seemingly born of frustration.
"The third goal came five minutes later, Granit Xhaka, so improved this season in a more advanced position, capitalizing from another Martinelli surge. At that, the game was done, something Conte seemed to accept with a series of defensive substitutions apparently aimed at damage limitation and keeping players fresh for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Eintracht Frankfurt.
"The 3–1 scoreline may have been the same as last season, but for Arsenal this felt a whole lot more impressive. Arteta might actually be restoring his side to the elite."
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