Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for a first Champions League after five years were put on hold after they were beaten by their London counterpart Tottenham Hotspur 3-0. A first brace from Harry Kane this season and an early second-half strike from Heung-Min Son were enough to ensure a comfortable home win for the Spurs in the North London derby.
Tottenham Hotspur Spoil Arsenal Champions League Hope
A win for Arsenal would have sealed their Champions League qualification but Spurs who are in the fifth-place position kept their hope of Champions League qualification alive by beating them. Arsenal had to play most of the game with 10 men following Rob Holding’s sending off in the first half. The defender fouled Son which led to the penalty that gave the first goal 17 minutes later the defender fouled the same player again which led to his second yellow card resulting in a red card.
Harry Kane got his second goal on 37 minutes as he headed into an empty unmarked off a flick-on from a corner. With three minutes left in the first half Eddie Nketiah’s attempted curler was tipped over the bar for a corner. Just two minutes into the second half Spurs went 3-0 ahead thanks to Son who slammed Just two minutes into the second half Spurs went 3-0 ahead thanks to Son who slammed the ball into the net after Arsenal failed to clear their lines.
Arsenal almost hit back a few minutes later through Bukayo Saka off a pass from Martinelli but Ben Davies made a timely block and cleared the rebound for a corner. Tottenham Hotspur went close to going 4-0 ahead in 59 minutes but Emerson Royal’s header was palmed away by Aaron Ramsdale. Again Ramsdale was called to action on 62 minutes as he tipped away Kane’s long-range strike for a corner. In the 78th minute Cedric sent in a dangerous cross but Lloris came out and calmly claimed the ball in the air.
Arsenal star Odegaard had a chance to pull a goal back for Arsenal with 10 minutes left from a superb cutback from Tavares only to see his strike well saved by Lloris. Despite the defeat, Arsenal is still in fourth place on 66 points, just a point ahead of the Spurs with two games left to play.