April 29 – Arsenal edged past Spurs despite a late scare to keep their title hopes alive entering the final three match days of the Premier League season.
The Gunners were cruising with a 3-0 lead at half time that looked to have taken the sting out of the tie, but which ended 3-2 after Arsenal thwarted the home team’s late rally.
Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz shone in a clinical performance for Arsenal who were able to convert their chances despite holding only 28% possession in the first half.
Entering into the second period with plenty of positives despite the 3-0 deficit, Spurs collected themselves and made a respectable push, ignited by a mistake from Arsenal keeper David Raya. The Spaniard played the ball straight to unlikely goalscorer Christian Romero with a mishit pass, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left.
Spurs striker Son Heung-Min scored a penalty to bring the comeback within touching distance, but Arsenal’s impressive defence held firm to secure a valuable win for the Gunners’ title hopes.
“It was a really emotional game, a really tough place to come in this stadium and a tough team to play against,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
“We were 3-0 up, in control of the game, then in the second half we were dominating the game and creating chances. Then an individual error happens, that puts a message in your brain. We were dealing with the situations better, another [goal] and then it’s game on. They have the players and the quality to commit a lot of players forward. We had to suffer and react and I’m very pleased that we did.”
Hours later, Manchester City fired back with an important result of their own, winning 2-0 away at Nottingham Forest.
The victory saw Erling Haaland return to goalscoring form, coming off the bench to double City’s lead in the 71st minute. Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol had opened the scoring with a powerful header from a corner.
Kevin De Bruyne again stole the show for the blues, picking up two assists.
Wins for the two sides mean they break away from Liverpool, who sit five points adrift from leaders Arsenal with both teams having three games left of the Premier League season.
At the bottom of the table Forest are one point outside the drop zone.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1715799223labto1715799223ofdlr1715799223owedi1715799223sni@g1715799223niwe.1715799223yrrah1715799223