One Arsenal player’s play is beginning to stand out from the others, and Mikel Arteta has hinted that he may soon establish himself as a regular starter. “Based on his performance today, it’s clear he’s not a player who should be benched for anyone,” Arteta said in a post-match statement. Should he continue to play at this level, I may soon award him with a starting spot. It’s interesting to note that Arteta praised a different exceptional player rather than Thomas Partey or Gabriel Martinelli, who are frequently regarded as important members of the team.
Arsenal rallied from behind to defeat Tottenham 1-0 in a fiercely fought North London Derby. The Gunners’ performance was clearly affected by the absence of important players like Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard, which made the game extremely difficult for them. Tottenham had multiple opportunities thanks to players like Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, and Dejan Kulusevski, but David Raya of Arsenal was strong in the goal, making several vital stops to maintain parity.
Arsenal’s best chances appeared to come from counterattacks since they lacked the customary command in midfield; Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli both came dangerously close to ending the impasse. The derby was intense, as evidenced by the seven yellow cards given in the first half alone. The game was tense throughout.
The game was evenly contested in the second half, but Arsenal eventually took the lead. In this intensely competitive match, Arsenal secured the crucial goal through a powerful header from Gabriel Magalhães, thanks to a perfectly placed corner by Bukayo Saka.
### Player Ratings:
David Raya**: Made a number of crucial saves in the first half to prevent goals from Tottenham’s attacks. Throughout, he maintained his unwavering focus, which contributed significantly to Arsenal’s victory on his 29th birthday. **Score: 7**
**Ben White**: Son Heung-min repeatedly got the better of him, making it a challenging afternoon. White didn’t appear as sharp as usual and displayed a few reckless moments while in control. **Rating: 5** William Saliba**: Despite occasional difficulties against Dominic Solanke, Saliba played strong defense and showed his customary poise when handling the ball. **Score: 6**
Gabriel Magalhães**: An outstanding defensive player who made multiple blocks when Arsenal came under pressure from Tottenham. His value in both defense and attack was demonstrated with a pivotal goal from a corner to cap off his performance. **Score: 8**
**Jurrien Timber**: In spite of rumors that he should have been substituted during the first half, Timber maintained composure and gave the kind of performance needed in a game with such high stakes. It was rare that his opponent defeated him. **Score: 7**
**Thomas Partey**: Without Declan Rice to cover him in midfield, he was a little exposed despite playing admirably in Arsenal’s build-up play. There were moments when his immobility was obvious. **Score: 6**
Jorginho**: Found it difficult to keep up with the game’s tempo, especially when asked to press up the field. Kulusevski turned him too easily on several occasions. Despite his contribution to the team, he is more effective when used as a lone defensive midfielder. **Score: 5**
Bukayo Saka**: This season, he has either scored or assisted in every game, demonstrating his value once more. Gabriel’s goal was made possible by his incredibly accurate corner, which made him the game’s difference-maker. **Score: 8**
**Gabriel Martinelli**: Showed promise in a few runs down the left wing, but his judgment was erratic. He hit Havertz with a great cross that could have resulted in an assist on a different day. **Score: 6**
Kai Havertz**: Held up the ball well while Arsenal tried to find a way to deflect Tottenham’s pressure. In the last third, he displayed good passing ability and helped the team’s attack. **Score: 7**
Arteta seems increasingly confident that this player, who is still unnamed, can establish himself as a regular in the starting lineup based on his remarks. It appears likely that he will gain a regular spot in the team sooner rather than later with performances like these.
