Controversy as Spurs’ dream turns to nightmare in four-min derby chaos

Ange Postecoglou took another blow in Tottenham’s rollercoaster season as side went down to Arsenal in a four-minute blitz.

Arsenal reignited their Premier League title challenge with a stirring fightback to beat Tottenham 2-1 in the north London derby on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by Son Heung-min’s early opener at the Emirates Stadium.

But they seized the bragging rights against their bitter rivals thanks to Dominic Solanke’s own goal and Leandro Trossard’s strike just before half-time.

Arsenal’s first win in four games in all competitions lifted them within four points of leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s game in hand on Arsenal still makes them title favourites, but the Gunners are at least applying some pressure on Arne Slot’s men.

Beaten 2-0 by Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg last week and eliminated from the FA Cup third round by 10-man Manchester United on penalties on Sunday, Arsenal were desperate for a response and Tottenham once again proved their ideal opponents.

Questions have been asked of Arteta’s ability to add more silverware to the 2020 FA Cup, which remains the only trophy of a reign that started in 2019.

With Bukayo Saka already sidelined due to hamstring surgery, Gabriel Jesus’s potentially season-ending knee injury had added to Arteta’s woes.

But Arsenal have now won seven and drawn one of their last eight league games against Tottenham.

Arsenal once again proved too good for Tottenham in the north London derby.

It was another painful blow for under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, whose team are just eight points above the relegation zone.

Postecoglou must find a solution to the inconsistency that saw them beat Liverpool 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final first leg before needing extra-time to see off fifth tier Tamworth in the FA Cup third round.

Tottenham are without a win in their last five league games, losing four of those to drop to 13th place.

“It wasn’t anywhere near the level today,” Postecoglou said post-match to Optus Sport.

“We have no choice, we go back to work and prepare for our next game... of course (these losses) hurt me, but it’s not acceptable.

“It’s too many losses, too many games that get away from us and it needs to stop.”

Raheem Sterling wasted a golden opportunity to put Arsenal ahead in the opening moments when his heavy touch allowed Djed Spence to clear after the winger raced through on goal.

Looking wracked with nerves, Tottenham keeper Antonin Kinsky was fortunate not to gift a goal to Arsenal on his Premier League debut after taking too long to clear, with Kai Havertz unable to apply the finishing touch.

Tottenham hit back with a burst of pressure that produced the opener in the 25th minute.

When Arsenal could only clear a corner to the edge of the area, Son smashed a shot that glanced off William Saliba as it flashed past David Raya.

Another game, another tough loss for Ange Postecoglou. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP).

“It is against the run of play... it takes a wicked deflection off Partey, down to Raya’s left and it trickles inside the post,” former Premier League centre back Michael Dawson said on Soccer Special.

“Not what they deserved, but Spurs will not care.”

The South Korean’s goal lifted him to fourth place in the all-time north London derby scoring charts with eight, behind Harry Kane’s 14 and 10 each for Emmanuel Adebayor and Bobby Smith.

But Arteta’s men recovered their composure to wrestle back control in controversial fashion before half-time.

They won a 40th minute corner that replays showed should have been a goal-kick because it ricocheted off Trossard and took full advantage.

“Spurs will feel aggrieved that the corner should not have been given as it came off Trossard last before going behind. Postecoglou was also up in arms that Lewis-Skelly was not penalised for a foul on Sarr in the build-up to that corner,” Sky Sports Sam Blitz said.

Declan Rice’s delivery was misjudged by Kinsky and Gabriel’s header back into the six-yard box went in via a hefty deflection off the unlucky Solanke.

Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal celebrate at full-time following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Emirates Stadium on January 15, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

It was the fourth time set-piece specialists Arsenal had scored from a corner against Tottenham since the start of last season.

Postecoglou was furious with the decision to allow the corner, but there was worse to come for the Australian as Trossard put Arsenal ahead in the 44th minute.

Thomas Partey started the move by robbing Yves Bissouma in midfield and picking out Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain’s pass sent Trossard galloping into the penalty area for a fierce low drive that whistled over Kinsky’s weak attempted save into the far corner.

Arsenal remained on top after the interval, but the profligate Havertz headed wide from Odegaard’s cross and nodded straight at Kinsky from Partey’s delivery.

Kinsky saved from Rice and Odegaard in the closing stages as Arsenal threatened to win at a canter, before Pedro Porro hit the post for Tottenham in a dramatic finale.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed Postecoglou was having words with officials” after the events that unfolded in the lead-up to Arsenal’s first goal.

“Postecoglou is having words with the officials. He is not happy with how some decisions have been going Arsenal’s way,” Blitz said.

Originally published as Controversy as Spurs’ dream turns to nightmare in four-min derby chaos