Arsenal’s fast start secures derby win against Tottenham

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe (left) celebrates with Bukayo Saka after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in London yesterday. (Reuters)

Arsenal struck three times inside 35 minutes to beat Tottenham 3-1 yesterday and move above their north London rivals in the Premier League table. Just three weeks ago Spurs sat top and Arsenal bottom after their worst start to a league season for 67 years. However, the Gunners have been rejuvenated by six summer signings and the return to fitness of a number of key players. Emile Smith Rowe opened the floodgates by taking advantage of some awful Tottenham defending on 12 minutes. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then rounded off a brilliant team move before Bukayo Saka rolled home the third 11 minutes before half-time. Son Heung-min pulled a goal back for the visitors 11 minutes from time, but it was too little, too late for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men. Arsenal climb to 10th ahead of Spurs on goal difference with both sides on nine points from six games. However, they are going in opposite directions with Tottenham losing their last three league games by a combined score of 9-1. There are encouraging signs for Arsenal that the decision to invest heavily in youth during the transfer window is beginning to pay off. The Gunners spent more than any other Premier League club over the summer, investing £150mn in players aged between 21 and 23, despite failing to qualify for European football for the first time in 25 years. Four of the new faces started with all 11 of the starting line-up either signed in the two years since Mikel Arteta was appointed or handed a contract extension in that time. Saka and Smith Rowe are two of those to have committed their long-term future to the club where they came through the ranks and were the stars of a first 45 minutes that sent the Emirates into raptures. Harry Kane is still to score in the Premier League this season after Tottenham refused to relent to Manchester City’s interest. Spurs have only scored four goals in total in their opening six games, but Son has three of them as his shot from Sergio Reguilon’s cross had too much power for Ramsdale. But the England international goalkeeper ensured there was not a grandstand finish with a stunning save to turn Lucas Moura’s dipping effort onto the bar. Earlier, Raul Jimenez scored an emotional first goal since his horrific head injury in November as Wolves earned a 1-0 win over Southampton. Jimenez feared he would never play again after suffering a fractured skull in a clash with David Luiz at Arsenal last year. The Mexico striker only returned to action at the start of this season.