Alexandre Lacazette admits Arsenal’s penalty against Tottenham was ‘lucky’

North London derby was decided when the Frenchman won and scored a spot-kick in the second half

Alexandre Lacazette won and scored Arsenal’s penalty against Tottenham (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Alexandre Lacazette has admitted that he was fortunate to win the penalty that decided Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham.

The rivals met at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, and it was Spurs who opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark when Erik Lamela found the bottom corner of the hosts’ net with a stunning rabona.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners equalised on the stroke of half-time, however, as Martin Odegaard’s deflected shot beat Hugo Lloris, and Lacazette fired home the winner from the penalty spot on 64 minutes – with Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez deemed to have fouled the striker in the visitors’ box.

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The afternoon got worse for Jose Mourinho’s team when Lamela, who had replaced the injured Son Heung-min on 18 minutes, was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes.

Whether or not the midfielder’s second booking was justified was the subject of debate among fans and pundits, with Lamela having caught Kieran Tierney in the face with a stray arm while running, and Sanchez’s apparent foul on Lacazette for the penalty was also a matter of controversy.

“We are lucky to get the penalty, I think,” Lacazette told reporters after the final whistle.

“But, of course, I am happy.

“Back in the days I have taken a lot of penalties against [Lloris], but I was confident.”

The result saw Arsenal remain 10th in the Premier League table but they went level on points with ninth-placed Aston Villa, who have a superior goal difference and a game in hand over the Gunners.

Tottenham, meanwhile, stayed in seventh spot following their defeat.