Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Son penalty in late drama
Spurs lost to Arsenal in a crucial match in the Premier League title race and battle for a top four finish
Arsenal held on to beat battling local rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 away and move four points clear at the top of the Premier League after an emphatic first-half display and a nervous second period in an electric derby atmosphere on Sunday.
An own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and efforts from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz put the Gunners in control at halftime and although Spurs fought back through Cristian Romero’s strike and a Son Heung-min penalty the visitors claimed the three points.
The victory moved Mikel Arteta’s Gunners further ahead of second-placed champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand. Liverpool are in third spot a point behind City but like Arsenal having played 35 matches.
Tottenham’s defeat hit their hopes of playing Champions League football next season as they stand seven points off fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit still with two games in hand.
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Go time in north London! A huge match awaits us - let’s see how it plays out.
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
James Maddison spoke recently about Tottenham’s involvement in the title race - that is, playing teams who were in it, and the annoyance of themselves not being one.
“I’ve got no interest to be honest. We’ve got our own goals for the season and I’m not bothered,” he said.
“If we end up winning games against teams that are in that race, it makes no difference. We’ve got a job to do.
“We are where we are and that is something that gives us good motivation to want to be in the title race next year, seeing how good it is this year.
“For sure, that’s definitely the feeling. That’s filtered down from the manager.
“It’s annoying really, listening to three teams go at it for the title and we’re not in it, especially after the start of the season we had.
“How exciting is the title race this season? It’s amazing, it’s brilliant for a neutral. My friends and family, everyone is locked into the Premier League every week at the minute because it’s such a good title race.
“Frustrating not to be a part of that but we are where we are and we have our own job to do.”
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Under 15 minutes until kick-off now at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A reminder of the lineups:
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Recent Premier League form:
Spurs - WLWDWL
Arsenal - DWWLWW
On home soil, though, Spurs have won the last three, while Arsenal have won five of the last six away from home.
The top scorers in the league for each team are Son Heung-min (15) and Bukayo Saka (14).
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
And for Arsenal, it’s somewhat simpler...
They are one point clear at the top, having played one game more than Manchester City.
Effectively, they simply have to win all their remaining matches and hope that Pep Guardiola’s team slip-up somewhere along the way. One draw for City and all the rest wins, plus all Arsenal wins, means it goes to goal difference for the title - Arsenal currently have an eight-goal advantage there.
Much can yet change, though, and getting the job done today is the only really important aspect for Arteta and co.
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Here’s the state of play for Spurs, then...
They currently sit in fifth, seven points behind Aston Villa - but having played three matches fewer. While that means it’ll be a packed schedule for Tottenham in the run-in, Villa’s second-half collapse against Chelsea yesterday does mean it’s effectively back in Spurs’ hands for fourth.
If they were to win all three they’d be two points ahead. If they win two and draw today, for example, it would be down to goal difference - Villa’s is currently five goals better, so a pair of 2-0s would leave only one in it.
All very convoluted and largely irrelevant if the Gunners spank their rivals here, mind.
Fifth will get a Europa League spot for next season in all probability after the Premier League clubs mostly exited Europe last week.
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
The Premier League is heading for a classic title race, with Manchester City and Arsenal set for a thrilling battle as we enter the final weeks of the season.
But what was shaping up to be a three-way race for the title is now down to two challengers. Liverpool dropped points for the fourth time in five Premier League games as they were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham, after a 2-0 defeat at Everton all but eliminated Jurgen Klopp’s from the title race.
With City in action in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, both Arsenal and Liverpool were left with two games to play before City’s next Premier League fixture. Arsenal did their job, beating Wolves away and then thrashing Chelsea to move four points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side,
The champions have another game in hand after thrashing Brighton on Thursday night, as Guardiola’s side aim to win a fourth league title in a row – a feat that has never been achieved in the history of English football, and the title is still in their hands.
So, with four weeks to go, which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season?
Here’s where the title could be won and lost...
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures in the run-in?
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all have tricky tests to pass as the Premier League title race enter its final weeks, but who has the best run-in?
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Ange Postecoglou will not let Tottenham’s motivation going into Sunday’s north London derby be driven by stopping Arsenal winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
The overall picture for Spurs has changed since they lasted played on April 13, with fourth-placed Aston Villa able to establish a six-point advantage while fifth is no longer set to provide Champions League football.
It does not decrease the significance of Sunday’s clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Arsenal aware a victory would move them a step closer to a first title in 20 years.
However, Postecoglou referenced his time in charge of Celtic when he looked ahead to a crucial fixture between two bitter rivals.
Arsenal ‘demise’ not motivating Ange Postecoglou as Spurs chase own achievements
A victory for Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would help them move a step closer to a first title since 2004.
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Lineups are in - here’s the team news for the derby:
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski, Son, Werner
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Tottenham vs Arsenal - LIVE
Team news is just a few minutes away - the Gunners are not expected to make many changes away from their regular strongest lineup, but Spurs continue to battle several injuries and left-back Destiny Udogie is done for the season.
We’ll see very shortly who Postecoglou and Arteta select for this massive match-up.
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