September 2021 – Page 6

It made Thierry Henry and Tony Adams happy, and Mikel Arteta on the touchline was so excited by it all that he probably expended more energy than the Tottenham midfield.

So bravo Arsenal, bravo. A 3-1 win – their 600th in the Premier League – over Tottenham looks great on paper and proved rather fetching on grass, too, the Gunners picking off their north London neighbours at will, particularly in an embarrassingly one-sided first half.

But in essence, this was all about keeping up with the Joneses. Any significance from a sunny Sunday afternoon’s Emirates Stadium stroll can only be gauged by what Arsenal, and indeed Spurs, do next.

Successive 1-0 wins over Norwich City and Burnley kept the wolves from Arteta’s door after Arsenal’s slow start to the Premier League season, and this derby success was received like they used to savour championships in these parts.

Of course, there is a temptation to look at this result without a dispassionate perspective, to rave about Emile Smith Rowe, who was excellent, and Bukayo Saka, whose season perhaps starts now. The young English pair both scored and both had an assist, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rather than an imposter.

Record scorer Henry, sitting in the stand alongside Spotify billionaire Daniel Ek, was all smiles and giggles, while former skipper Adams, in the Sky Sports studio, gushed about “a wonderful, wonderful first-half display”. The Gunners gentry were grinning, dreaming it might be the start of something.

“I’m excited guys, I’m excited,” Adams said, almost apologetically. “I was absolutely delighted the kids took the game to Tottenham.”

Even Gary Neville said Arsenal had been “fantastic”, and in many ways they were.

SPURS TAKE A HIDING

Smith Rowe wandered untracked into the heart of the Spurs penalty area to drive home Saka’s low centre for the 12th-minute opener; then Aubameyang put the finishing touch to a glorious Arsenal counter-attack, Tierney to Aubameyang, on to the galloping Smith Rowe with a delicious flick, then back to Aubameyang for an unstoppable finish into the far right corner.

Tottenham were torn apart again in the 34th minute as Saka bundled his way through a desperate Spurs defence before driving a shot across Lloris.

Harry Kane had given the ball away at the other end of the pitch and dashed back to try to make amends, only to nudge Saka’s attempted pass handily back into the path of his England colleague, who pounced on the chance.

Smith Rowe, at 21 years and 60 days, firstly became the youngest player to score and assist in a Premier League north London derby since Cesc Fabregas in September 2007.

Then Saka took that record outright from Fabregas, 21 days after his 20th birthday. Saka is also the youngest Englishman to score a league goal for Arsenal against Spurs since a 19-year-old Stewart Robson at Highbury in April 1984.

Son Heung-min got Spurs a goal in the 79th minute, ending their 307-minute goalless run, and Lucas Moura hit the bar in stoppage time, but this was a hiding for the visitors.

“They weren’t competitive in any shape or form,” said Graeme Souness, incandescent.

“Arsenal would wish they could play against a team like Spurs were in the first 45 minutes every week. Spurs were so poor.”

KANE DRAWS A BLANK AGAIN

Kane went for a Hail Mary shot from 28 yards and the Arsenal crowd gleefully jeered as the ball cleared the bar by several yards. The England captain then headed wide from a corner and another roar went up.

Aaron Ramsdale pushed aside a Kane shot that may have been drifting wide as Spurs showed more spark after the break, before the Tottenham talisman scooped a shot wide after running in behind the Arsenal defence for the first time.

He cannot buy a Premier League goal this season. Five games in and he has yet to get off the mark, but at least he had five attempts here, more than doubling his tally for the campaign. It was 2016 when he last went on a five-game goalless streak.

Aubameyang answered his own critics in style and has now scored in all three of his home Premier League games against Spurs, but Kane only fuelled the arguments of those questioning his performance this season. Dele Alli was hauled off after 45 wasted minutes, with Sky pundit Neville saying: “He needs to sort himself out.”

SPURS NEED TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE

Spurs have conceded three goals in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since September 2003, and after the derby dismay against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, here was another savage reminder of their shortcomings.

They are only the second team in Premier League history to win their first three games of a season and then lose the next three, following the Everton team of 1993-94 who finished in 17th place.

So for one day at least, we might say Tottenham are in dire trouble and the future looks bright for Arsenal, despite them sitting alongside one another in mid-table.

And, of course, the CEO of Spotify fancies Arsenal. He loved the 80s mix, the 90s mix and the 2000s mix, and senses the 2020s mix could have a rocking soundtrack too, bouncing to the beat of Saka, Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard.

Tottenham, for now it seems, are lacking punk, lacking soul, stuck on a sad-song, life-sucks loop.

Anett Kontaveit beat Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and will face home favourite Petra Kvitova for a place in the Ostrava Open final.

Estonian Kontaveit, ranked 30th in the world, claimed her fourth top-20 win of the season as she prevailed 6-4 6-3 on Friday.

Kontaveit also defeated Bencic in the 2020 Australian Open, meaning she is 2-0 in their head-to-head rivalry.

Czech left-hander Kvitova awaits in the last four, after the second seed defeated Bencic’s Swiss compatriot Jil Teichmann 6-4 6-4.

Teichmann beat Kvitova in their only previous meeting, but the world number 10 had too much on this occasion, along with the backing of the crowd to boot as she chases a 29th singles title of her career.

The other semi-final will see top seed Iga Swiatek face Maria Sakkari.

Last year’s French Open winner Swiatek reached her first semi-final since May – when she landed the prestigious title in Rome – by overcoming Elena Rybakina 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Sakkari, meanwhile, ended Tereza Martincova’s hopes in straight sets.

Greek star Sakkari ended Swiatek’s reign as Roland Garros champion in June, beating the Polish 20-year-old in the quarter-finals in Paris.

Anett Kontaveit sealed a second title of the season as she overcame Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Ostrava Open.

The unseeded Estonian, who is ranked 30th in the world, saw off fourth seed Sakkari 6-2 7-5 to claim the trophy in the Czech Republic.

Kontaveit has now won two tournaments in four weeks, having won in Cleveland last month to end a four-year wait since winning her first title in 2017.

This was Sakkari’s first final in over two years as well, but Kontaveit cruised past the Greek in just over an hour and a half as she did not drop a set all week.

That flawless level of tennis saw her eliminate Petra Kvitova, Paula Badosa and Belinda Bencic en route to the final, where the 25-year-old faced only one break point as she powered to a comfortable victory over a player who reached semi-finals at the French Open and US Open this year.

Sakkari managed more of a fight in the second set, where she battled for her sole break point, but Kontaveit breezed past any pressure and kept her serve to maintain control.

Sakkari, who is likely to move into the top 10 despite losing, had boasted a 5-3 head-to-head record in main-draw clashes between the pair coming into Sunday’s final, but 23 unforced errors outnumbered the 20 winners from her racket as Kontaveit collected her most notable title to date.

Anett Kontaveit made home hope Petra Kvitova her latest Ostrava Open scalp as there were upsets in both semi-finals on Saturday.

Kontaveit faced second seed Kvitova having previously toppled Paula Badosa and Belinda Bencic in straight sets.

Her last-four victory was even more comprehensive, as Kvitova went down 6-0 6-4 in 71 minutes.

Kontaveit advances to her fourth final of 2021 and avoids facing Iga Swiatek, who defeated her at the US Open – her only loss since winning the Tennis in the Land title last month.

But the Estonian must take on the woman who knocked her out of the Olympic Games in Maria Sakkari.

Number four seed Sakkari took down top seed Swiatek 6-4 7-5 to make her first WTA Tour final since 2019.

Sakkari had lost nine consecutive semi-finals since then, while Swiatek had never lost at this stage of a tour-level event, but the Greek was a deserving victor.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said Arsenal’s youngsters played with freedom after the Gunners cruised to a 3-1 derby victory over Tottenham.

Emile Smith Rowe turned in a star display as he scored Arsenal’s opener before teeing up Aubameyang to double their advantage at Emirates Stadium.

In a blistering first-half display from Mikel Arteta’s side, Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 after Arsenal capitalised on Harry Kane’s error in the 34th minute.

Son Heung-min netted a late consolation for sorry Spurs, who also hit the crossbar late on, though Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were deservedly beaten as they suffered a third successive top-flight defeat. Tottenham are only the second team in Premier League history to win their first three games of a season and then lose the next three, after Everton in 1993-94.

“It means everything. It means the world to us. We gave everything for them today. The fans give us everything. They push us. It’s an amazing feeling, unbelievable,” Arsenal captain Aubameyang told Sky Sports, as he spoke alongside Smith Rowe.

Asked if he offered guidance to Arsenal’s younger players, Aubameyang said: “These boys are great guys, they’re doing well, and I’m happy that my kids will grow up [in London] and one day be maybe like [Smith Rowe].

“It’s quite easy when you have boys like this who always listen and are ready to learn. So I try to give them some advice.

“The most important thing is they feel free as they play. This is what they did today. They are doing amazing.”

Smith Rowe created two chances and scored with his only shot in a scintillating performance. With his goal having been teed up by Saka, the duo have now assisted one another five times in the Premier League. Among players both aged 21 or younger, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney (eight) have teed each other up more often in the competition’s history.

“I’ve always dreamt of this day, to score for Arsenal against Tottenham. To have my family here as well, it’s just the best feeling ever,” said Smith Rowe, before explaining Arteta’s influence.

“He just tells us to keep calm. We’re young players in a massive game. He just encourages us so much and gives us so much confidence. Not just the manager, but the players in the team as well, they give us so much confidence.”

After heading into the last international break bottom of the table, having lost their opening three games by an aggregate score of 9-0, including a 5-0 thumping by Manchester City, Arsenal have now overtaken a Spurs side who were top at the end of August.

It is the first time Arsenal have ended a day of Premier League action above Spurs since October 25, 2020.

“We are doing a good run for a couple of games now,” said Aubameyang.

“After the game against Manchester City it was time to have a chat between us players and this is what we did. We want to go forward and win games.

“This was important for us to make everything clear. We are doing well right now and the feeling is very good.”

Arsenal claimed consecutive Premier League victories over Tottenham for the first time since 2014 as they eased past their North London rivals 3-1.

Having initially made a strong start to life under Nuno Espirito Santo, Spurs have now lost three successive league games, with their manager seeing his first derby effectively lost inside the first 45 minutes.

Emile Smith Rowe’s 12th-minute strike gave Arsenal a deserved lead, which was doubled when he teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 15 minutes later.

Spurs offered limp resistance and the game was essentially put to bed by the excellent Bukayo Saka, with Son Heung-min’s effort a mere consolation for Tottenham.

Smith Rowe rewarded Arsenal for a bright start when he drifted towards the near post to slot Saka’s clever low delivery beyond a rooted Hugo Lloris.

Thomas Partey tested Lloris from range and Aubameyang fired a long-range effort narrowly over the crossbar before Spurs threatened a riposte through Son, who forced Aaron Ramsdale to turn behind from a tight angle.

Aubameyang found the desired accuracy to double Arsenal’s lead as Spurs were caught on the counter, the Gabon forward freeing Smith Rowe down the left with a neat backheel and then firing into the bottom-right corner from the eventual return pass.

Tottenham failed to learn their lesson and were undone by another Arsenal break. It was Saka this time who was given the freedom of one flank, and he surged into the open space to tuck home after seeing Harry Kane block his attempted pass to Aubameyang.

After his defensive efforts fell short, Kane then missed a glaring opportunity to offer a more traditional contribution to proceedings as he headed wide unmarked from a corner, encapsulating an awful first half for Spurs.

Kane did draw a save from Ramsdale on the hour mark and then beat the Arsenal goalkeeper, only to see his dinked effort drift wide of the right-hand post.

Son side-footed beyond Ramsdale, with Granit Xhaka injured in the build-up, but those were the only blots on a superb day for Arsenal, who survived an injury-time scare when their goalkeeper tipped a Lucas Moura strike onto the crossbar.

What does it mean? Arsenal into top half above slumping Spurs

Arsenal lost their first three league games of the season by an aggregate score of 9-0, while Tottenham reeled off three successive wins to set the early pace.

Spurs clearly looked like the superior North London side at that point, but a reversal in fortunes means Arsenal are now into the top half, above their arch rivals on goal difference.

Young Gunners firing on all cylinders

With his opener, Smith Rowe became the youngest Arsenal player to score in a North London derby since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2014 at 21 years and 43 days.

That was until he was upstaged by Saka, who found the net at the age of 20 years and 21 days. Smith Rowe and Saka each finished with a goal and assist, the latter replacing Cesc Fabregas as the youngest player to do so in a North London derby in Premier League history.

Three not a magic number for Tottenham

Spurs’ dismal defensive display saw them concede three goals in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since September 2003. Tottenham already appear to be fading as a force in terms of competing for the Champions League.

Key Opta Facts

– Arsenal have recorded their 600th Premier League win, just the third side to reach this total after Chelsea (601) and Manchester United (691).
– Lloris appeared in his 19th Premier League North London derby, equalling the record by a player for one of these sides (Ray Parlour for Arsenal). Indeed, only Sol Campbell (22) has played in more such games overall since the formation of the competition in 1992 than the Spurs skipper.
– Smith Rowe and Saka have assisted one another five times in the Premier League; of duos when both aged 21 or younger, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney (eight) have assisted one another more in the competition’s history.
– Aubameyang has netted eight goals against Tottenham in just 12 matches, four of which came while at Borussia Dortmund, and the other four with Arsenal. He has scored more goals against Spurs than any other player since he first scored against them back in March 2016.

What’s next?

Arsenal visit surprise package Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. Spurs host Aston Villa a day later, three days after taking on Mura in the Europa Conference League.

Ansu Fati marked his return with a brilliant late goal and Luuk de Jong opened his Barcelona account in a 3-0 LaLiga defeat of Levante.

Luuk de Jong doubled Barca’s lead in his fourth appearance for the club following his move from Sevilla after his Netherlands team-mate Memphis Depay opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

An inspired performance from Aitor Fernandez prevented Barca from significantly boosting their goal difference as they totally dominated the game, with under-pressure boss Ronald Koeman watching on from the stands as he serves a two-match ban.

Fati, on as a late substitute, put the icing on the cake in his comeback following 10 months out with a knee injury, finishing superbly in stoppage time as Barca ended a run of three games without victory.

Depay sent Fernandez the wrong way from the spot just six minutes in, having produced great trickery to beat two defenders before being upended by Nemanja Radoja.

De Jong opened his Barca account eight minutes later, finishing clinically with his right foot after Sergino Dest had slipped him in.

Gerard Pique somehow failed to add a third from point-blank range and Gavi was unable to lob an advancing Fernandez, who showed great reflexes to tip the lively Depay’s header over the crossbar.

Levante were unable to contain Depay and Fernandez diverted his right-footed drive around the post after some shambolic defending.

Teenager Nico Gonzalez, making his first Barca start, flashed a venomous long-range drive wide and Fernandez thwarted Depay yet again.

Sergio Postigo almost turned the impressive Gavi’s cross into his own net before Fati was given a great ovation when he came off the bench with 10 minutes to go.

The 18-year-old looked like he had never been away as he spun away from a defender then beat another before finding the back of the net with a right-footed shot from outside the area.

There has been so much doom and gloom at Barca with Koeman’s job reportedly under threat following Lionel Messi’s exit, but there was no sign of a crisis as Levante were outclassed.

Koeman, who was shown a red card in the goalless draw with Cadiz in midweek, certainly has the players behind him on the evidence of this performance.

Forward Fati raised the roof when he fired home in the closing stages, showing why he had the confidence to take Messi’s number 10 shirt as Barca maintained their unbeaten record in LaLiga this season.

Outstanding Depay torments Levante

Fati will fill the back pages but Depay was outstanding and deserved more than just the one goal, which took his tally in LaLiga to three.

The former Lyon captain tormented Levante, dropping deep and getting in behind. Five of his six shots were on target and he also provided three key passes.

Radoja all at sea

Radoja conceded the penalty that gave Depay the chance to open the scoring and he was a passenger as Levante were left chasing shadows before being withdrawn early in the second half.

He was taken off after 55 minutes having had just 23 touches and committing two fouls from three attempted tackles.

What’s next?

A Champions League encounter at Benfica is Barca’s next assignment, while Levante travel to Mallorca next weekend.

Hubert Hurkacz and Pablo Carreno Busta will do battle for the Moselle Open title after the top two seeds reached the final with straight-sets victories on Saturday.

Top seed Hurkacz defeated German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to stand on the brink of a third title of the year.

The world number 13 from Poland won 79 per cent of the points on his first serve and sealed victory in an hour and 37 minutes.

Gojowczyk saved five break points but was unable to pull off an upset in Metz.

Hurkacz said: “Peter played a really great match. He was super tough to play against, so I am proud of myself that I managed my emotions and played a good tie-breaker.

“I was trying to keep holding serve to stay in the second set and ended up taking the set in the tie-breaker.”

Carreno Busta ended Gael Monfils’ bid to win the title on home soil, the Spaniard triumphing 7-5 7-6 (10-8).

Monfils was 5-3 up in a second-set tie-break but failed to force a decider as Carreno Busta advanced for a showdown with Hurkacz.

James Duckworth is into his first ATP Tour final after beating eighth seed Ilya Ivashka 6-3 7-6 (7-4) at the Astana Open.

The Australian will face Kwon Soon-woo, who upset second seed Alexander Bublik 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Team Europe are poised to seal yet more Laver Cup glory after producing another dominant display against Team World, though the focus was on Nick Kyrgios following comments about his long-term future.

Europe swept Saturday’s four matches in Boston to stand on the cusp of a fourth consecutive Laver Cup triumph – the defending champions lead 11-1 and require just two more points to clinch the title.

Stefanos Tsitsipas blitzed Team World’s Kyrgios 6-3 6-4 at TD Garden, where Olympic Games gold medallist Alexander Zverev beat John Isner 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (6-8) 10-5 before US Open champion Daniil Medvedev made light work of Denis Shapovalov 6-4 6-0.

Team Europe secured their fourth win of the day in the doubles – Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev teaming up to defeat Isner and Kyrgios 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 10-4.

After Kyrgios’ straight-sets loss to Greece’s Tsitsipas, the 26-year-old Australian star casted doubt over his tennis future.

“This is my probably my last Laver Cup,” former world number 13 Kyrgios – an Australian Open and Wimbledon quarter-finalist – told reporters post-match. “I don’t know how much longer I will be in tennis.

“This is my last event of the year. I will get my body right ahead of the Australian Open.

“My mum is not doing too well with her health. I’d like to go back and see her.”

“As long as I’m on the court, I will try and give my best, but I’m not going to lie and say that I’m going to plan to play four or five more years on tour,” Kyrgios said. “That’s just not me.”

Playing for the first time since earning his maiden grand slam trophy at the expense of record-chasing Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows, world number two Medvedev suffered no letdown against Shapovalov.

“I played unbelievably, especially [in] the second set,” Russia’s Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “I didn’t know what to expect because after the US Open, I didn’t play for a week and a half. Came here, practised as much as I could the past three days, so I didn’t hit [that] many balls, but was surprisingly feeling well.

“I wanted to show that also today. [The] first [set] was not easy, the ball was not going as fast as I wanted [and] he was playing really good. And then I just couldn’t miss a ball anymore. I’m really happy about [that].”

Kwon Soon-woo claimed his maiden ATP Tour title with a straight-sets defeat of James Duckworth at the Astana Open.

The South Korean came out on top in the battle of the unseeded first-time finalists on Sunday, winning 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in Nur-Sultan.

Kwon won 86 per cent of points behind his first serve and came from behind in both sets to be crowned champion.

Australian Duckworth failed to convert three set points in a tie-break and Kwon made him pay, grasping his first opportunity to go a set up.

Kwon was broken in the first game of the second set, but the battling world number 82 hit straight back to draw level.

Duckworth, who had not dropped a set en route to the final, was broken again to trail 4-2 and he was unable to find a way back as the 23-year-old Kwon celebrated his finest hour.