Arsenal staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the fiercely contested North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium on January 15, 2025.
The victory revitalized the Gunners’ Premier League title aspirations and brought much-needed joy to their fans after recent setbacks.
The game started on a tense note for Arsenal as Tottenham’s Son Heung-min opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Taking advantage of Arsenal’s failure to clear a corner, Son’s powerful strike deflected off William Saliba, leaving goalkeeper David Raya helpless.
With this goal, Son moved up to fourth on the all-time North London Derby scoring chart, trailing behind Harry Kane, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Bobby Smith.
However, Arsenal was determined to bounce back. In the 40th minute, they leveled the match in controversial fashion. A corner kick, which replays suggested should have been a goal-kick, led to Dominic Solanke’s unfortunate own goal.
Gabriel’s header from Declan Rice’s delivery ricocheted off Solanke into the net. This marked Arsenal’s fourth goal from a corner against Spurs since last season, showcasing their set-piece prowess.
Just four minutes later, Leandro Trossard delivered the decisive blow. After Thomas Partey dispossessed Yves Bissouma in midfield, he initiated a swift counterattack.
Martin Odegaard’s well-timed pass found Trossard, who fired a low drive past Tottenham’s debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Despite Kinsky’s effort, the ball sailed into the far corner, giving Arsenal a vital lead before halftime.
In the second half, Arsenal maintained control but missed several chances to extend their lead. Kai Havertz and Declan Rice came close, but Kinsky made crucial saves to keep Tottenham in the game. Spurs had a late opportunity when Pedro Porro struck the post, but Arsenal held firm to secure their first win in four matches across all competitions.
The victory brought Arsenal within four points of league leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest the previous day. While Liverpool remains the title favorite with a game in hand, Arsenal’s spirited performance sends a strong message of their intent to challenge for the crown.
For Tottenham, the defeat added to their struggles. Manager Ange Postecoglou faces mounting pressure as Spurs sit just eight points above the relegation zone, with no wins in their last five league outings.
