EPL: Gabriel secures Arsenal 1-0 victory over Tottenham in North London derby

Gabriel Magalhaes headed Arsenal to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday, extending the Gunners’ dominance in the north London derby.

Despite the absence of key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta’s side managed to secure the vital victory.

Odegaard was sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained during international duty with Norway, while Rice served a suspension following his red card against Brighton.

These setbacks made Arsenal appear vulnerable ahead of their trip to Tottenham, but the Premier League title contenders delivered a combative and determined performance.

Gabriel’s second-half header, his first goal since February, proved to be the match-winner. The Brazilian defender’s goal made it three wins from four league games for unbeaten Arsenal, as they continue their pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004.

The victory also marked Arsenal’s third consecutive triumph at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, further solidifying their recent dominance in the derby.

The Gunners have now lost just once in their last eight meetings with their fierce rivals, with the only defeat coming in May 2022.

Currently second in the table, Arsenal are two points behind Manchester City as they prepare for their Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday, followed by a critical league clash with City next weekend.

The match highlighted Arsenal’s resilience, but Tottenham’s wasteful finishing once again cost them, a recurring issue under manager Ange Postecoglou this season.

Tottenham’s second successive defeat leaves them with only one win from four games in a worrying start to the season for Postecoglou after their late swoon last term cost them a top four place.

Turning to Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli to replace Rice and Odegaard, Arteta had urged his team to show the “resilience, depth and hunger” needed to overcome their selection issues.

Arsenal had to call on all those qualities during a vibrant start from Tottenham, with David Raya making a fine save at his near post after Son Heung-min’s pass picked out Dejan Kulusevski for an instinctive strike.

Raya had to make an even more agile stop when Kulusevski’s cross flashed through a crowd of players toward the far corner until the Spaniard clawed it away at full stretch.

William Saliba had to make a crucial, last-ditch tackle to deny the unmarked Dominic Solanke, who took too long to shoot inside the area after Son pressured Arsenal into conceding possession.

Tottenham’s profligacy gave Arsenal encouragement and Kai Havertz rose highest for a close-range header that forced a superb save from Guglielmo Vicario, who was also equal to Martinelli’s curler moments late.

Picked out by James Maddison’s cross, Solanke did well to hold off Gabriel but his looping header dropped narrowly wide.

Amid a flurry of aggressive challenges, the simmering derby tension boiled over after Jurrien Timber’s tackle on Pedro Porro left the Tottenham right-back writhing on the turf.

Vicario confronted the Arsenal defender, with both players booked after a melee featuring a plastic bottle thrown from the stands.

By the time Kulusevski crudely up-ended Jorginho on the stroke of half-time, seven players had been booked in a fractious clash, including five from Tottenham.

Micky van de Ven’s glancing tested Raya soon after the interval, but toothless Tottenham were hit with a brutal sucker punch in the 64th minute.

With 23 goals from set-pieces since the start of last season, Arsenal have become dead-ball specialists this was another expertly worked routine.

Saka’s in-swinging corner arrowed towards Gabriel, who got away with a push on Cristian Romero before powering his header past Vicario from five yards.

Tottenham penned Arsenal back in the closing stages, but couldn’t find a way through as Kulusevski blasted just over.