Emerson Royal was sent off at the Emirates
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)It has been a regular criticism of Arsenal over the years that they cannot simply lose important matches - they must always implode. Last season’s north London derby at Tottenham was a case in point, the manner of defeat handing Spurs the initiative in the race for the top four despite the fact that the Gunners’ fate was still in their own hands.
For once, here at the Emirates, the shoe was on the other foot as the hapless Emerson Royal was sent off after 62 minutes of what turned into a carnival of a derby day for the Gunners as they extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win.
