A splendid first half sees Arsenal win over Tottenham and move eight points behind Manchester City
The last derby between Tottenham and Arsenal was played at the end of last season with both teams fighting for the last place in the Champions League. That day Conte’s men clearly prevailed over their rival and took fourth position from the Gunners. Arsenal’s metamorphosis in the eight months that have passed since that game is worth studying. Arteta has formed a mature, serious team that plays naturally in any setting and knows how to resist the attacks of its rivals. The first part against Tottenham was a sample of all these virtues, he controlled his opponent’s most dangerous players well and did damage with the ball. He had, yes, some luck in the first goal, which Lloris practically introduced into his own goal. The second was scored by Odegaard with a great shot from the edge. The Norwegian’s performance is superb and it is increasingly difficult to understand Real Madrid’s decision to sell him. Tottenham were able to get into the game before the break on a header from Kane, but Ramsdale prevented it. In the same way, the English goalkeeper put out a great foot against Sessegnon and prevented Conte’s team from dreaming of a comeback. Arsenal’s victory was crucial, as City had lost the derby to United on Saturday. In this way, the Gunners open a gap of eight points with respect to Guardiola’s men, which places them as the favorites to win the league title, something unthinkable when the season began.
The rest of the day left us a big surprise at Brighton-Liverpool. The seagulls defeated Klopp’s men 3-0, in a superb match, which demonstrated the great work of Roberto de Zerbi these months. The reds, for their part, are a caricature of the team we saw last season and the Champions League positions look increasingly distant.
On Sunday Chelsea played, another London derby, against Crystal Palace, and the Blues finally managed a victory after eight games without winning. The three points give Graham Potter air while waiting for the winter signings on the day that the purchase of Mudryk was confirmed for a figure close to 100 million euros. Newcastle also won by the minimum, against a combative Fulham who sold his skin dearly. The victory helps the magpies to move five points away from Tottenham, in the fight to play in the Champions League next season.
A league:
The day in Italy was marked by the match on Friday, which pitted Napoli against Juventus. Spalletti’s men gave a real lesson in authority and won 5-1, a result perhaps exaggerated compared to what was seen on the pitch, but it shows what a great team this Napoli is. In the same way as Arsenal, the Neapolitans have in their hands to give the bell, and win a scudetto that they have not raised since the year 90. With one game to go to finish the first round, Naples has a nine-point advantage over to second place, occupied by Milan. The current calcium champion did not go beyond a draw against the modest Lecce, and although he regains second place, Pioli’s men know that they cannot afford this type of setback if they want to follow in the lead of the leader. The one that did win was Inter, 1-0 against Hellas Verona. Lautaro decided on a gray game of his own, but one that allows them to keep their distance from the teams that come from behind. All of them won: Lazio against Sassuolo by 0-2, Roma against Fiorentina, 2-0 and Atalanta, who led the day’s rout with an 8-2 win against Salernitana. The performance of these three teams suggests that the fight for the Champions League in Italy can be exciting and that neither Juventus nor the Milan teams can relax one iota.
