Arsenal outclass Tottenham Hotspur for big 3-1 derby win

Tottenham Hotspur were systematically taken to pieces by old rivals Arsenal on Saturday, losing 3-1 in a North London derby that took the Gunners four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal's Thomas Partey, left, and Tottenham's Son Heung-min in action during a Premier League match in London on Saturday. [EPA/YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur were systematically taken to pieces by old rivals Arsenal on Saturday, losing 3-1 in a North London derby that took the Gunners four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal got off to a fast start and took the lead in the 20th minute when Thomas Partey slotted in the first goal. Spurs were able to equalize 10 minutes later with a Harry Kane penalty, but goals from Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka in the second half locked in a resounding win for the home side.

Spurs, who were already ineffective with 11 men on the pitch, were forced down to 10 early in the second half when Emerson Royal was shown red for a late challenge on Gabriel Martinelli.

Speaking after the game, Spurs’ manager Antonio Conte challenged the call, but there was little doubt from the commentators and analysts that the challenge was far too late to deserve anything but an early shower.

Korean forward Son Heung-min — who has scored five goals in his last three games, three of those with Spurs — was entirely ineffective, playing 71 largely unnoticeable minutes before Conte swapped him out for Matt Doherty.

Kane was also barely in the game, and while Richarlison had a few good chances, he was also unable to offer any real impact.

More concerning were the issues at the other end of the pitch, where Hugo Lloris had an unusually rough game, fumbling the ball badly in the lead up to the Jesus goal for a costly error that pretty much ensured Spurs had no chance of getting back into the game.

The loss was Tottenham’s first of the season — one made especially galling at the hands of their fiercest rivals — and knocks the club down to third in the Premier League with five wins two draws and a loss after Arsenal and Manchester City.

With City still to play the Manchester derby on Sunday, however, that position could change.

Spurs get very little to rest and regroup, as they’ll be back in action on Tuesday with a Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

Returning to the Premier League next weekend, Spurs will take on Brighton on the road. While in previous years the south coast side might have seemed like a bit of a soft target, Brighton currently sit in fourth place as of press time, just three points behind Spurs.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]