ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper (Online)
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO celebrated his first home match as Spurs boss with a morale-boosting victory over the noisy neighbours.
Heung-Min Son’s 79th-minute goal was enough to see off Arsenal and pile on the problems for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
With want-away Harry Kane just starting a period of self-isolation after returning from his holidays, Spurs had Son playing through the middle.
And the popular Korean was quick to make an impact, firing just wide in the sixth minute before being denied by an excellent save from Bernd Leno.
Arsenal’s first meaningful attempt on goal did not arrive until the 26th minute when Alex Lacazette volleyed wide from Kieran Tierney’s cross.
The French striker was a lot closer with his next effort when he swivelled on the edge of the area for a shot that clipped the outside of a post.
Dele should have made the breakthrough shortly before half-time when he was teed up by Son’s lay-off but fired against the base of the post with only Leno to beat.
Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga both impressed in their first starts for the Gunners but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s continuing poor form was a concern for Arteta.
The Gunners boss was then involved in an angry exchange with Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who accused Arteta of getting in his way as he tried to retrieve a ball right in front of the visitors’ technical area.
Arteta responded by jabbing the Danish international in the chest before being reprimanded by ref David Coote.
That row sparked the game into life, with Tierney and Granit Xhaka both booked for fouls before Dele hit the post again from a yard out.
And they had even more cheer when Son finally found a way past Leno after being played in by Japhet Tanganga before leaving to a standing ovation when he was replaced late on by teenager Dane Scarlett.
