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#ARSTOT: Four things we noticed

Arsenal celebrate

We extended our unbeaten run to 19 games with a 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Here’s three things we noticed from Sunday’s north London derby at Emirates Stadium:

STARTING WITH A BACK THREE

Unai Emery named the same team that had secured a win at Bournemouth in our last Premier League outing, meaning that we lined up with three central defenders again. The system worked particularly well in the opening half hour, allowing wing backs Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin to steam forward repeatedly.

Kolasinac set up chances for Iwobi and fellow wing back Bellerin in the opening 20 minutes, with Tottenham's back four struggling to deal with the overlaps.

At half-time the formation was modified slightly to allow Alexandre Lacazette to partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.

However, after 70 minutes, with the score at 2-2 Emery reverted to a back four when Shkodran Mustafi was forced off with injury, and eight minutes later we were 4-2 up. Our flexibility and adaptability paid handsome dividends today.

Full backs

Our wing-backs excelled in the first half at Emirates Stadium

AUBA'S STRIKE-RATE

The obvious focal point of our attack today, Aubameyang didn't disappoint. Keeping his calm from the penalty spot to put us ahead, his second goal was a real moment of magic. 

His flash shot from outside the area gave Hugo Lloris no chance, and truly ignited the comeback, ramping up the atmosphere inside the Emirates.

It was his 12th goal of the season, 10th in the Premier League, to move him clear in the race for the Golden Boot. Incredibly those 10 goals came from 10 consecutive shots on target - the last goalkeeper to make a save from him in the Premier League was Lukasz Fabianski in August.

That's 22 goals in all since he joined Arsenal in January - no Premier League player has scored more goals since he made his debut.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stat

COMEBACK KINGS

This was the first time we have won a north London derby after trailing at half-time since 2007, but it shouldn't have come as any surprise. We still haven't won a first half in the Premier League this season, but our second-half stats remain highly impressive.

We have scored 24 times after the break in the Premier League, and have earned 11 points from losing positions.

This also extended our run of winning when opening the scoring to 13 games this season. It's now 19 unbeaten in all competitions - the momentum is building ahead of another huge game this Wednesday at Old Trafford.

Alexandre Lacazette goal

TORREIRA TOWERS ABOVE

Lucas Torreira was named Man of the Match for the third time in our last four games, and it was richly deserved after another midfield masterclass. Following his awards in the Liverpool and Bournemouth games, our South American continued to show that he is right at home in the Premier League already, on just his ninth start in the competition.

His well taken goal – his first for the club – from a lovely Aubameyang through ball, was the icing on the cake of a superb all round showing.

He won possession 12 times, more than any other player on the pitch, and was heavily involved all over the pitch, covering more than 11 kilometres in the 90 minutes.

His partnership with Granit Xhaka is growing by the game, but it will be broken up this Wednesday. Xhaka's second-half booking means he will be suspended for the trip to Old Trafford.

 

Lucas Torreira stat
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