Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur have again fallen to their bitter rivals, while Newcastle has claimed a comeback victory over winless Wolves.
Spurs have lost back-to-back games and two of their first four in the new season, with Monday’s result coming after a 64th-minute Gabriel Magalhaes broke the deadlock.
Tottenham owned 63.8 per cent of possession but managed just one more shot on target than the Gunners, who recorded eight fewer total shots in North London.
Four games into the campaign, Spurs sit 13th on the table with one win, one draw and two losses from their opening slate, after finishing fifth last season.
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As he pointed to before the start of the season, history suggests Postecoglou’s teams improve in his second year in charge.
The 59-year-old led Celtic to silverware in the Scottish Premiership in his second year at the helm, and when he was reminded of the statement he made in the pre-season, he didn’t shy away.
“Absolutely, and I think I’ll correct myself and say that I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year,” he said convincingly after the 0-1 loss.
“I don’t say things unless I believe it … Nothing has changed.”
After a follow-up question about repeating history with these Spurs, Postecoglou didn’t waver, saying: “Well, I sort of said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta labelled it an “ugly” win for his club, which has now won on their last three visits to Tottenham, losing just once, in May 2022, in their last eight meetings with their hated neighbours.
“Super happy obviously. We know what it means for our club and our people to win a north London derby,” Arteta said.
“We had moments in the game where we had to suffer. We had to adapt a little bit because of some of the players we lost.
“I prepared for Tottenham for five days, then in one moment I lost one player and in another I lost another. I didn’t sleep much!
“There were no excuses, no crying. The players have thick skin. They love the game. Sometimes to win you have to do the ugly things and they love to do that.
“I loved it, because day after day the players are hungrier and hungrier.”
Arteta’s side were without skipper Odegaard due to an ankle injury suffered on Norway duty, while fellow midfielder Rice served a suspension for his red card against Brighton.
But the Premier League title contenders dug deep with a combative display, benefitting from Tottenham’s latest display of wasteful finishing before Magalhaes bagged the winner in the second half.
The Brazilian defender’s first goal since February made it three wins from four league games for unbeaten Arsenal as they chase a first title since 2004 after two successive runners-up finishes.
At Molineux Stadium, Wolves scored first through Mario Lemina but conceded two goals within a six-minute span to Newcastle in the last quarter of an hour to lose their third match in four to start the season.
Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes did the damage for Newcastle, who moved above Liverpool into third on the table, having won three of its first four meetings.
The Magpies’ performances have been far from convincing so far this season. Yet, Eddie Howe’s men have still picked up 10 points from a possible 12.
Howe responded to another lacklustre opening 45 minutes with a triple half-time change with Alexander Isak among those to come off at the break.
Newcastle could have found themselves 2-0 down before the fightback started when Jorgen Strand Larsen smashed off the post.
Instead, fortune favoured the visitors when Schar’s speculative shot flicked off the head of Craig Dawson and flew beyond Sam Johnstone.
Barnes needed no such luck as he arrowed a rocket into the top corner 10 minutes from time to snatch all three points.
Newcastle still required a brilliant save from Nick Pope to deny Matheus Cunha in stoppage time and leave Wolves in the bottom three.
However, they survived to move level with second-placed Arsenal, just two points behind Manchester City.