Arsenal thrill Mikel Arteta after 10-man Tottenham destruction keeps them top

Gunners impress the manager in 3-1 derby win

Granit Xhaka celebrates after scoring Arsenal's third goal in the 3-1 Premier League victory against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium on October 1, 2022. AP

Arsenal players celebrate after Granit Xhaka's goal. AP

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli reacts after being fouled by Tottenham Hotspur's Emerson Royal, leading to a red card. Reuters

The big screen displays the red card given to Tottenham Hotspur's Emerson Royal. PA

Gabriel Jesus celebrates after putting Arsenal 2-1 in front. AP

Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring the second goal with Granit Xhaka. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates levelling at 1-1 from the penalty spot. Reuters

Harry Kane scores the equaliser from the penalty spot. EPA

Kane celebrates after scoring. EPA

Arsenal's Thomas Partey celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal. Getty

Tottenham Hotspur's French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is beaten by a shot from Arsenal's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey. AFP

Thomas Partey celebrates scoring the first goal of the game with teammate Granit Xhaka. PA

Tottenham Hotspur's Hugo Lloris under pressure from Arsenal's Gabriel. Reuters

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is not happy. Reuters

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta directs play. Reuters

Manager Mikel Arteta was delighted after Arsenal retained their place at the top of the Premier League with a fine London derby victory over 10-man Tottenham.

A rare Thomas Partey strike and goals from Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka secured a well-deserved 3-1 win, Spurs losing for the first time in the league this season having equalised through Harry Kane’s penalty.

"The players grabbed the game and deserved to win the it. It was the whole team - starting from the back to front. They really connected today," Arteta told BBC Sport.

"I hope this will give them more belief that they can win at this level in the way we want them to play.

"We have connected with our supporters and when that happens it is a really powerful thing.

"We have a really meaningful opportunity to give a lot of people happiness on a beautiful day and we have delivered that and it is a really great feeling.

"We are focusing on what we are doing. This is a sign that we are going in the right direction. We need to maintain that now and go for it.

"You feel the desire and humility - they haven't won anything yet and that is important to have that humility, which is a big driver for us."

Partey got the ball rolling with his first Arsenal goal from outside the box in his 65th match for the Gunners, with Kane levelling from the spot to take his tally in this fixture to 14 in 18 appearances.

But the second half belonged to the hosts, Jesus striking on his north London derby debut and Xhaka continuing a fine run of form either side of Emerson Royal’s red card for Spurs.

It was a rousing start from Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli forcing an early corner with a low drive as Mikel Arteta’s men built on a raucous atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium.

Spurs held their resolve though and arguably should have taken the lead themselves, Richarlison prevented from getting a clean strike at goal by teammate Eric Dier as Aaron Ramsdale made a smart save.

Xhaka then arrowed a shot wide before his midfield partner showed him how it is done, Partey shaping up and curling home a fine finish for just his third Arsenal goal.

The lead would last just 11 minutes, however, a rash challenge from Gabriel Magalhaes on Richarlison leading to a penalty which Kane converted with the usual aplomb to continue his excellent form in this fixture, seven of his 14 goals against Arsenal coming from the spot.

Arsenal slowly regained their composure and Jesus danced past two defenders before testing Hugo Lloris just before the interval.

Arteta’s side started the second-half at the same high intensity and soon reaped their rewards as Jesus restored their advantage.

Lloris could only palm a Bukayo Saka shot into the path of Cristian Romero, the ball ricocheting back under the Spurs captain and allowing Jesus to tap into an open goal from point-blank range.

The Brazil forward should have headed in a second of the afternoon moments later but sent his effort well wide when picked out unmarked by Saka.

Tottenham’s task was made all the more difficult just after the hour when Emerson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Martinelli – who was then almost immediately involved in Arsenal’s third.

The Brazilian bundled his way towards goal, the ball ultimately breaking into the path of Xhaka, who finished superbly.

Conte responded by making four substitutions but the game was beyond his side by that point.

Arteta, too, was able to make alterations, resting Partey, Martin Odegaard and Jesus as they all came off to standing ovations.