Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham

Two first-half goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis just 305 seconds apart helped seal a pulsating north London derby victory on Saturday.

It had been six long games since we had beaten our nearest rivals, but how we delivered here – a performance that owed as much to steel as the silk with which we are usually associated.

The match started with all the intensity and fire you would expect from a derby, and the way we harried and hounded the visitors soon had the fans on their feet.

Alexandre Lacazette had an early opportunity that he fired over the bar, before his opposite number, Harry Kane, tested Petr Cech from inside the area.

With 19 minutes on the clock we created the first clear-cut opportunity of a fiery affair, Aaron Ramsey releasing Hector Bellerin with a peach of a pass but Lacazette unable to slide on to the wing-back’s inviting cross.

We were on top, although Mauricio Pochettino’s side still posed a threat on the counter, with Christian Eriksen soon hitting the post and Kane’s header well held by Cech.

We kept knocking on the door though and eventually we made the breakthrough, Ozil curling in a free kick that Mustafi headed across goal and in via the far post.

The goal spark jubilant scenes, and the noise levels increased even further when, moments later, Alexis doubled our advantage from close range after Lacazette picked him out at the near post.

As expected, Tottenham upped their game after the restart and we were soon indebted to Mustafi for a fabulous last-ditch tackle to deny Kane inside the six-yard box.

Cech made a fine save near the end to deny Eric Dier from close range, but in truth that was as threatening as the visitors got.

This was our day – and once again, north London is red.

https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/arsenal/2017-Nov-18/arsenal-2-0-tottenham-hotspur-match-report