Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Here’s David Hytner’s verdict from a helter-skelter afternoon in North London. Thanks for joining me, enjoy your Sundays. Bye!

Ed Aarons was at the Vitality Stadium to see Bournemouth take the south-coast-side-chasing-Europe baton from Brighton:

Manchester City are taking on Nottingham Forest imminently, and they’re without Phil Foden (who is ill) while Erling Haaland starts on the bench. Also, Daniel Harris reports that Pep has gone for double-knit.

“Would Ramsdale have gifted Spurs a goal like that?” writes Nick Ramsdal Darryl Accone. “The second time in a few weeks Raya has done that. Raya out! Ramsdale in!” I was surprised there was no Sky cutaway to big Aaron on the bench after Raya dropped that clanger.

Ange Postecoglou’s verdict: “It’s disappointing – we allowed them way too easy access to our goal, it’s not acceptable at this level and we paid the price. We fought back – we had to, there’s no other choice – but it’s still very disappointing.”

“It feels odd to say, in the middle of the ecstasy of a derby win, but it won’t be until after Manchester City play tonight that I’ll know how to feel about this match,” writes Kári Tulinius.

Arsenal’s victory today surely ends any faint hope Liverpool had of getting back into the title race. City aside, you can’t see Arsenal dropping six points from their last three games: Bournemouth (H), Man Utd (A), Everton (H).

Also, happy St Totteringham’s Day to those who celebrate.

Here’s the top of the table as it stands. Arsenal are four points clear but City have two games in hand, while Spurs’ top-four hopes are fading with a few tough games to come.

Bukayo Saka speaks: “The last 20 minutes wasn’t nice, but we’ll take it to get the win. I’m proud of all the boys, we fought to the end. We just needed to be calm, showed level heads … we know what it means to the fans, and to us. It means everything. Three games to go. Do we need to be perfect? Yeah! We’ve learned our lessons, we’re ready for these last three games.”

Phew. We also reached a new level of Arsenality there. I don’t know whether to admire them for getting over the line, or admonish them for allowing that situation to unfold. Both Spurs goals came from rushes of blood, from Raya and Rice respectively.

Danny Whybrow checks in. “Zen baby. Totally unbearable, as expected.”

A derby that looked done and dusted with an hour gone ended in a nerve-jangling finish for Arsenal – but they held on for a precious victory to keep pressure on Manchester City in the race for the title.

96 mins: A poor delivery from Lo Celso is cleared at the near post and the return ball swirls behind Raya’s goal. Arsenal have held on for the win!

95 mins: Oh my! Son’s cross is palmed clear by Raya, but only to Bissouma, who opts not to shoot and gets crowded out. Spurs have another corner, and Vicario is coming up …

94 mins: It’s an Arsenal head that gets to the ball before Ben White hacks it away downfield. Spurs have to rebuild from the back …

94 mins: Porro’s free-kick is headed away by Saliba, but it goes behind for a Spurs corner …

93 mins: Richarlison gets the better of Saliba, who trips him. Spurs free kick, out wide on the left …

91 mins: Porro’s cross from deep is claimed by Raya. Arsenal haven’t been under sustained pressure in this half, yet their three-goal lead has been eroded to one.

90 mins: Six minutes of stoppage time. Hold on to your hats …

89 mins: Arsenal win a corner, which is flicked over Vicario – possibly by his own player, Romero – and has to be cleared by Van de Ven from under his crossbar.

88 mins: Richarlison clashes with Gabriel as the spice level ratchets up further. Kiwior is on for Odegaard, with Giovani Lo Celso replacing penalty-winner Ben Davies for Tottenham.

Son smashes the penalty beyond Raya’s dive and into the top corner. Three minutes plus stoppage time – and this is about to get very interesting …

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Shades of Doku and Mac Allister at Anfield, and this time VAR intervenes, Oliver awarding the spot-kick after a quick monitor check. Son Heung-min will take it …

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84 mins: More VAR drama? Ben Davies gets to the ball ahead of Rice, whose swinging boot connects with Davies’ thigh. Michael Oliver says no, but I think this will be given …

82 mins: Another one! Thomas Partey goes in the referee’s book for one of those “tactical fouls” to stop a Spurs break.

81 mins: Vicario punches away and Odegaard hooks it in the air. The captain then wins a free kick, and Arsenal are keeping their cool – for now.

80 mins: The booking count doubles as Ben Davies wearily trips Saka. Arsenal get the free kick out wide on the right, from where Rice will whip it in …

78 mins: On first viewing, it looked like a foul on Johnson, although well outside the penalty area. He gets another chance to clip a cross in, but it’s plucked out of the air by Raya. “Well jinxed,” notes Thomas Stratford (see last two posts).

76 mins: The home fans still seem a little muted, although they’re on their feet when Brennan Johnson goes down under Martinelli’s challenge. Arsenal break, and Kulusevski is booked for hauling the Brazilian down.

75 mins: We haven’t seen a single booking yet, and Michael Oliver keeps his cards stowed despite a spat between Richarlison and Declan Rice.

Manchester City take on Nottingham Forest next – and Erling Haaland is on the bench. Join Daniel Harris for that one:

73 mins: Martinelli then gets upfield and sees his cross intercepted and (eventually) cleared by Bissouma.

72 mins: Eek! Martinelli can’t decide whether to pass back to Raya or clear, so instead smashes the ball low across his own penalty area, where it just escapes Richarlison.

71 mins: Kulusevski, impressive again in the No 10 role, finds Richarlison, whose cross loops off Tomiyasu and into Raya’s grateful grasp.

“In the first half when Arsenal won a corner, the camera picked out a Spurs fan screaming eff off at the corner taker,” notes Charles Antaki. “Thing is, now that it’s Spurs taking their corners there, said fan is doing exactly the same.”

68 mins: Arsenal are still being positive, though, and Odegaard gets to the byline only for the all-action Romero to hoof it clear.

66 mins: That freak goal has woken up Spurs fans (and players) who seemed resigned to their fate. One more goal and things will really heat up …

As Raya collected a back pass, Cristian Romero charged upfield for no apparent reason – but it paid off handsomely as the keeper clatters his clearance straight into him, allowing the centre-back to roll the ball into the far corner!

Oh my word. Spurs have faint hope from absolutely nowhere, thanks to a clanger from David Raya!

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63 mins: Arsenal make their change first, with Gabriel Martinelli on for Trossard. James Maddison, who’s had a disappointing day, is replaced by Richarlison while Yves Bissouma is on for the hapless Hojbjerg.