Title-chasing Arsenal punishes Spurs in derby
Arsenal moved eight points clear at the Premier League summit after a commanding 2-0 victory at rival Tottenham on Monday (AEDT).
Manchester City fell to a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday and Arsenal capitalised to extend its lead to eight points with its first away win in the north London derby since 2014.
Hugo Lloris' incomprehensible own goal and Martin Odegaard's sublime first-half strike proved the difference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a fan seemingly kicked out at Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at full time.
Antonio Conte's side improved after the interval but a largely uninspiring performance leaves Spurs five points off fourth-placed United, which has played a game fewer.
Lloris handed Arsenal the lead as he inexplicably parried into his own net after Bukayo Saka's tame right-wing cross-shot deflected off Ryan Sessegnon towards goal.
Tottenham's goalkeeper atoned somewhat by keeping out Odegaard's fizzing drive, while Thomas Partey struck the right-hand post with a thunderous volley.
Yet those warnings were not heeded by Spurs, who were 2-0 down when Odegaard was again offered room outside the area. This time, he picked out the bottom-right corner.
Ramsdale denied Harry Kane's header on the stroke of half-time before thwarting the Spurs striker and Sessegnon after the interval with impressive stops in quick succession.
Eddie Nketiah wastefully fired against the onrushing Lloris shortly after, though that mattered for little as Arsenal – despite a late flurry of Spurs pressure – eased to a potentially pivotal victory.
Tempers threatened to boil over at the end, when a Tottenham supporter kicked out at Ramsdale after a confrontation with Richarlison, though Mikel Arteta rushed across to drag his team away from a potential flashpoint.
