Arsenal survived a late fightback to win 3-2 at north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and move four points clear at the top ahead of Manchester City's match at Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners had a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg along with Bukayo Saka’s strike and Kai Havertz’s header.

But Arsenal's nerves were tested when Cristian Romero punished David Raya’s error before Son Heung-min pulled another goal back from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.

However, Mikel Arteta's side held on for a win that could prove crucial in the title race, and one that severely hits Spurs' hopes of finishing in the top four.

How the match unfolded

The Gunners broke through after 15 minutes when Hojbjerg inadvertently nodded Saka’s inswinging corner beyond Guglielmo Vicario at his near post.

Spurs responded, and after Romero headed against a post, Micky van de Ven thought he had equalised when he slotted home from close range. However, the goal was overturned following a VAR review, with the defender adjudged to be offside.

A Spurs shot ricoheted off two Arsenal players and into the path of Van de Ven, who was given offside because the Arsenal touches were deemed by the VAR as deflections and not deliberate play.

Spurs dominated possession and probed for an equaliser, but when one of their attacks broke down in the 27th minute, Arsenal went from defence to attack in a matter of seconds, with Havertz picking out Saka, who cut inside before slotting past Vicario.

Havertz then got in on the act before half-time, heading home Declan Rice’s corner from inside the six-yard box.

An error by Raya gifted Spurs a lifeline after the break, when Romero pounced on the goalkeeper’s poor clearance to reduce the hosts’ arrears. The goal denied Raya confirmation of at least a share of the Castrol Golden Glove award, given to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in a season.

Matters were made more fraught for Arsenal late on, when a VAR check confirmed a penalty should be awarded to Spurs for Rice’s foul on Ben Davies.

Son lashed a brilliant spot-kick into the left-hand corner, yet a late Spurs onslaught ultimately came to nothing, as the Gunners secured another big win with just three matches of their season remaining.

Saka matches Wright feat

The destiny of the Premier League title may be in Man City’s hands, but Arsenal are still very much in the hunt after a second London derby victory this week.

Arteta’s side, who thumped Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday, have bounced back brilliantly from their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa two weeks ago, scoring 10 goals in three games while conceding just twice.

After his corner led to the opening goal, Saka doubled the lead with his 15th league strike of 2023/24 – his most in a single season – while he became the first English player to score home and away for Arsenal against Spurs in a single campaign since Ian Wright in 1993/94.

The damage was effectively done when Havertz headed in the Gunners’ 16th goal from a corner this season, the most in a single campaign since West Bromwich Albion in 2016/17, though Arteta will have been concerned by their near slip at the end.

Spurs’ struggles on home soil continue

The 195th north London derby culminated in Spurs losing successive home league games against Arsenal for the first time since 1988.

Despite their best efforts in the second half, it was always going to be difficult to turn things around against a side who have now won all 16 matches when leading at half-time this season.

Now without a win in four meetings against their rivals, they have also tasted success just once in five home outings against the Gunners.

With their own title hopes undented by their rivals, Arsenal will hope Spurs can instead harm City’s chances when they host them on 14 May.

Club reports

Spurs report | Arsenal report

Match officials

Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Dan Cook. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.