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The pursuit of Champions League qualification for Arsenal is not yet secured. And for Tottenham, it isn't quite over just yet either. On Thursday in the North London derby, Spurs battered 10-man Arsenal 3-0 at home to pull within a point of the fourth-place Gunners with two games to go in the Premier League season. A win for Arsenal would have secured UCL qualification, but a lack of composure when most needed, combined with a smart and effective blueprint for Tottenham saw Spurs dominate from start to finish. Tottenham's goals all came before the game reached the 50th minute.
Had it not been for Aaron Ramsdale in goal, the score could have been even less flattering for Arsenal. The Gunners had been the hottest team in England on the back of four straight victories, but on this night, Tottenham were at their best, producing a display that saw Harry Kane score twice and Heung-min Son score the other .
Tottenham were dominant from start to finish in every basic metric as they outshot Arsenal 16-8 with a xG of 2.90. But when Rob Holding was sent off in the 32nd minute, things shifted completely in terms of possession. For the remaining hour, Spurs ran circles around Arsenal by dominating possession and taking 13 of their 16 shots on the night. Five of those hit the target which could've been worse without an impressive day in net from Aaron Ramsdale, who made three saves while facing six shots on target.
It was bonehead mistake after bonehead mistake for an Arsenal team that had been composed lately. Holding's red card was just absolutely silly. You would think after the first yellow he would make adjustments, but he kept it going and deservedly got sent off for a silly challenge on Son. It wasn't like Son got in his head or anything, and they were just down 1-0 when the second yellow came.
This all came after Cedric's poor challenge on Son to give up the penalty. Take a look:
Here is the penalty call which lead to Tottenham's 1-0 lead. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/QZFQfUjp8L
And here is Holding getting the second yellow:
Rob Holding receives a second yellow card for a foul on Heung-Min Son. Arsenal are down to 10 men. Tottenham lead 1-0. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/JJBLgZB4YQ
As the minutes went off the clock, you could just see that Mikel Arteta was ready to get on the bus and get the heck out of there. With a chance to slam the door shut on Champions League qualification, Arsenal were borderline competitive, with their silly mistakes adding to the pressure they now have to see out the remaining games.
Arteta held back from speaking his mind on those decisions in an effort to avoid a fine by the Premier League. Holding and Son began going at it in the 11th minute and he only received a warning for the altercation. In the 26th minute, Holding got his first yellow card for dragging Son back on the touchline when he was beaten before being given his marching orders for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. If all three fouls weren't on Son, it's likely that Holding may not have been sent off but impeding Son while already getting multiple talking to was almost a given for being sent off.
"I cannot [talk about the refereeing]," he said. "I want to be on the touchline on Monday night. I will be suspended. You can ask the referee if he wants to come and give an assessment of the match. I can't do it. I have two options, I can lie to you, which I don't do, or I can be suspended and I really want to be on the touchline against Newcastle."
Cedric's foul on Son was harder to make out but that's likely the decision that Arteta was up in arms about. Due to the angles available, it's hard to see how Son went to ground other than seeing that he was surrounded by multiple Arsenal players.
"If I say what I think, I'm suspended 6 months... I don't know how to lie, and I don't like lying, so I prefer not to say what I think." Mikel Arteta is not happy after today's North London Derby. #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/Iyz8ZqHq0g
The race for top four is heating up and so too is the golden boot race between Heung-min Son and Mohamed Salah as we inch closer to the final matchday. Thanks to Thursday's performance, Son now has 21 goals on the season and trails Salah by one goal. Keep in mind, that's without being Spurs' penalty-kick taker. No player in the Premier League this season has scored more goals than Son's 13 as he has been rolling as of late. With matches vs. Burnley and at Norwich remaining, there is a good chance that the golden boot title goes to Son if he can keep this pace up.
Tottenham is firing on all cylinders! That's 21 on the season for Heung-Min Son, he's now only ONE goal behind Mo Salah for the Golden Boot. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/xEXmVCMOio
Despite the demoralizing loss to their biggest rivals, Arsenal still hold a one-point lead over Tottenham for fourth. With Holding missing their next match and the injured Gabriel in danger of being out too, Arteta will have a tough situation as they look to face Newcastle. Ben White will need to push for fitness heading into that match but the spot next to him will be tough to fill. Takehiro Tomiyasu could deputize centrally, but that would put Nuno Tavares back into a tough spot while leaving Cedric Soares in the lineup when he deserves to be dropped after a dismal performance.
If Spurs win their next match, that could make Arsenal's season-finale against Everton less tricky as the Toffees will officially avoid relegation with another Burnley loss. While that won't change Tottenham's approach, it does show just how intertwined each team's fate is as the business end of the season is upon us. With Antonio Conte's future also in the balance, Spurs players seem to be giving their all to ensure they all make Champions League.
Arsenal Holding: Just a silly, offensive performance by the defender. He was too chippy early on with Son, getting a needless yellow, and then his elbow to Son was inexcusable. It actually could have been a straight red. When that card was shown, Arsenal had no chance down a man. Rating: 1
Cedric: He should know better. Yes, he was trying to get Son off balance on the back-post header, but he wasn't subtle about it. There were better ways to defend that, like trying to get in front or even with him and try to cause a deflection. Giving that penalty up changed the course of the match. Rating: 3
Hojbjerg: What he did won't show up on a scoresheet but Hojbjerg was the engine for Spurs. Completing 71 of his 76 passes, he took control of midfield in a big way early and kept the balance as Spurs went up a man. Hojbjerg also brought defensive steel pressuring Arsenal all over the pitch. Rating: 7
Kane: It's unfortunate that he couldn't complete his hat trick but switching up his penalty tendencies caught Ramsdale off guard and it's not an easy thing to do on the fly. He doubled Tottenham's lead with a good header but Kane is at his best when he's shooting from everywhere so his nine shot attempts will be music to Conte's ears. Rating: 9
The gap for fourth place is now down to one point. Who will finish in fourth place on the final day?
The entire stadium, Arsenal fans aside, stand to sing Antonio Conte's name. He turns in a circle and applauds all of the Spurs fans.
With Davies on a yellow card, Rodon gets to make his first appearance since February 5 in FA Cup play. Antonio Conte has now emptied his bench.
Not only will Holding be suspended for their next match but Gabriel may have tweaked his hamstring. Nuno Tavares will come in as Ben White won't be risked with the match out of reach.
He makes another excellent save on Harry Kane but Spurs have dominated the second half holding 60+ percent possession so far. They've taken four shots putting three on target as this game gets put to bed.
We've made a change... ↩️ Gabriel Martinelli 🔛 Emile Smith Rowe ⚪ 3-0 🔴 (63)#TOTARS pic.twitter.com/Iyk7az6Ofi
Emerson almost scores Tottenham's fourth on a great ball in from Kane, but his header is kept out well from Ramsdale down to his right.
Son makes it 3-0 to the hosts! This one is all but over! Loose ball in the box after a challenge on Kane, and the South Korean puts it away!
Tottenham is firing on all cylinders! That's 21 on the season for Heung-Min Son, he's now only ONE goal behind Mo Salah for the Golden Boot. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/xEXmVCMOio
Despite having ten men, there is a way back into things for Arsenal if they can continue to pressure. The issue with doing that is Cedric is having issues defending without fouling so Ben White may need to come on at the half. So far both shots on target for Spurs have ended up in the back of the net but they'll want a third to put things out of sight.
It's Tottenham 2, Arsenal 0 through the first 45 minutes. The Gunners are down to 10 after Holding saw red. Spurs in full control while Arsenal need a hot start to the second half.
Arsenal's in-form striker goes for a beautiful curler from the corner of the box, but the French goalkeeper was there to push it over for a corner.
Rob Holding receives a second yellow card for a foul on Heung-Min Son. Arsenal are down to 10 men. Tottenham lead 1-0. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/JJBLgZB4YQ
Brace for Kane! Harry Kane doubles Tottenham's lead with the header at the far post. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/x6Vz1P97IH
Betancur's header off the corner falls right to the back post, and Kane heads it home with the ball just six inches off the ground! 2-0!!!
Holding is shown a red card! Another silly challenge on Son, impeding his diagonal run on a long ball. Second yellow, and he hits the showers early.
Rob Holding receives a second yellow card for a foul on Heung-Min Son. Arsenal are down to 10 men. Tottenham lead 1-0. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/JJBLgZB4YQ
If Arsenal can't get a goal back soon, this could be a tough one. Spurs are rolling and Cedric is being targeted after already conceding a penalty. Both teams have three shot attempts but Arenal's .07 xG so far shows that Conte's defense is doing their job.
Harry Kane buries the penalty and Tottenham take a 1-0 lead! 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/vjseiGwlEo
Kane approaches the ball...looks at the ref...looks down at the ball...
Cedric makes contact to Son, it seems, and the ref has given it! He hits Son in the back, and that is the right call.
Saka takes him down with a strong challenge, and Davies returns the favor by tripping him. A yellow, which was warranted, is given.
Tomiyasau with a great ball through to Martinelli, but the Gunners don't do anything with it. Still a very open game in the early moments, despite the chances now arriving just yet.
Holding and Son have gotten into it twice already, and it's getting super heated as the ref breaks them up. Starting to feel like both teams won't finish with 11 if this keeps up. Who can keep calm here?
North London Derby is getting a bit spicy early in the match as Heung-Min Son and Rob Holding get into it. 📺: @USA_Network #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/IzuuNPh0ZB
While the first place that Romero comes to mind is in defense, he plays such a large role in building from the back for Spurs. Davidson Sanchez hasn't been up to dribbling upfield yet and it will be something to watch as the match goes on.
First sign of frustration from a very loud home crowd, Spurs can't get out from the back. Arsenal's press is working. Then for a moment they get clear up the right but Gabriel does well to shield the ball from Kulusevski and draw a foul.
A pass to his defender is off by Lloris, and Arsenal get a shot off as a result. Nothing too serious, but it still is a tad sloppy to start for Spurs.
The match has begun! 90 minutes of intense soccer is ahead. So much on the line for both!
We've been waiting all day for this match to start
Arsenal will have their first choice attacking midfield supporting Eddie Nketiah who is the man in form. Nketiah has scored four goals in his last five games since taking over the starting job from Alexandre Lacazette and will be looking for more in an important derby match. The fluidity of the Arsenal attack will be hard to stop but usually, Antonio Conte has a plan.
With Romero out, the space between him and Emerson Royal will be targeted early and often by Martinelli. Fresh off of the good news of his upcoming Brazil callup, Martinelli will be locked in today.
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