Arsenal vs Tottenham: Four Things We Learned from Arsenal's North London Derby Triumph

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It was a thrilling encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but Arsenal prevailed an intense North London Derby by beating Spurs 3-2 in a crucial Premier League encounter.

An own goal from Pierre Emile Hojbjerg gave Arsenal the lead, which was extended by Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz as the Gunners were sitting pretty 3-0 at half time. David Raya's gift to Cristian Romero reduced the deficit, while Son Heung Min scored a penalty to make things more interesting.

But the Gunners held on to a crucial victory, which keeps them in the hunt for the Premier League. It was yet another pulsating encounter in North London, and here are the four things we learned-

Bukayo Saka Magic Continues

Bukayo Saka's standout performance highlighted the match, making him the first Arsenal player since Alexandre Lacazette in 2019/20 and the first Englishman since Ian Wright in 1993/94 - to score in both north London derbies in a single season.

Saka also netted his 15th league goal of the season. His contribution this season, with 33 goals involved, cements his place as a key figure in Arsenal's success. Also the goal that he scored was sublime, the movement and the finish to cap the breathtaking move was a treat to the eye for Arsenal supporters.

Mikel Arteta's Centurion Win

The match also marked Mikel Arteta's 100th win as Arsenal's manager, achieving this milestone with a higher win percentage than any other Arsenal boss in the Premier League era. Arteta's strategic acumen has guided Arsenal to 25 league wins this season, positioning them for Champions League qualification and potentially more as the season nears its conclusion.

David Raya keeps making Mistakes

Arsenal were sailing along quite comfortably in the second half with a three-goal lead. But a mistake from David Raya completely changed the complexion of the match. Raya managed to give the ball away to Cristian Romero, who scored a goal to reduce the deficit. From then on, Spurs came back into the match and made life difficult for the visitors. This is not the first time the Spaniard has made a mistake which led to a goal. He will have to rectify this side of his game in the coming weeks and beyond.

A Happy St. Totteringham's Day to Gooners

The victory not only secured local bragging rights but also guaranteed Arsenal finishing above Tottenham for the 24th time in the Premier League era, a feat celebrated as St Totteringham's Day among the Arsenal fans. With the win, Arsenal now have 80 points in 35 matches, while Spurs remain on 60 points after 33 matches.