North London is officially red. Arsenal defeated Spurs 4-1 and just like that, their title challenge is right back on track.
Truth be told, the Gunners have not really been at the races in 2026. They may well be in a cup final and sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League but there hasn't been something quite right about the way they've played.
Indeed, they have dropped points in four of their last seven top-flight games, notably losing to Manchester United while dropping further points in games with Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Wolves.
That 2-2 draw with Wolves was the nadir of their campaign to date. Mikel Arteta questioned how on earth his team had not won the game but their victory over Tottenham has relieved any pressure that was growing on the Spaniard and his men.
Rice-Odegaard-Saka-Trossard-Madueke-Arsenal
That said, the boss does need to make a few tweaks for their clash with Chelsea next weekend.
How Arteta can improve Arsenal's attack
While Arteta deserved criticism for his in-game management during that clash at Molineux last week, he does deserve praise for the way in which he engineered a swift turnaround against Spurs.
During that draw in the Midlands, Bukayo Saka started and scored as an attacking midfielder but he was back on the right flank in north London at the weekend.
However good Saka had been across games with Wigan and Wolves in a more central area, the victory at Tottenham issued a reminder that he and indeed Arsenal are at their best when he plays on the right.
The winger has not really been at the races for much of this campaign but has made steady improvements over the last week, bagging against Rob Edwards' men and supplying the opening goal for Eberechi Eze on Sunday evening.
However, despite netting four times, there is a feeling that this forward line can get even better. How can that happen? Well, in a number of ways.
Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal
Eze, Saka and Viktor Gyokeres - who also bagged twice over the weekend - have to remain in the team. The other alteration should see a change on the left flank where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard continue to underwhelm.
Martinelli's cameo against Wolves was nothing short of a disaster while the Belgian has not scored in any of the 13 matches he's appeared in throughout 2026.
Gyokeres-Trossard-Arsenal
As a result, Eze could be the man to play on the left with Martin Odegaard or Kai Havertz through the middle. Odegaard supplied the assist for Gyokeres' second strike on Sunday while Havertz's return to the team - before getting injured again - has been mesmerising.
The German returned to the team with a bang, scoring and assisting against Kairat Almaty, netting that winner against Chelsea and assisting Gyokeres against Sunderland.
That said, Arteta should also be open to change and rotation further back.
How Arteta can improve Arsenal's defence
While it's unlikely that the Spaniard will make too many changes for a big game with Chelsea next weekend, he should be considering handing a run in the team to one or two other players beyond Eze and Gyokeres.
Indeed, there are two players, Martin Zubimendi and Jurrien Timber, who have played more minutes than any other outfield players in the Arsenal squad this season. It's rather obvious too.
Most minutes by Arsenal players (2025/26)
Player
1) David Raya
2) Martin Zubimendi
3) Jurrien Timber
4) Declan Rice
5) William Saliba
6) Gabriel Magalhaes
7) Bukayo Saka
8) Viktor Gyokeres
9) Eberechi Eze
10) Leandro Trossard
While both players improved against Spurs, their displays against Wolves left a lot to be desired. It's rather remarkable that Christian Norgaard has only played 32 minutes in the top-flight this season because Zubimendi looked out on his feet at the end of that game with Molineux.
The same can be said for Timber who was struggling to complete a pass in the dying embers of that draw. He gave away possession far too often and it was difficult for Arsenal to advance play down the right-hand side as a result.
Jurrien Timber of Arsenal during the Premier League match
Truth be told, the Dutchman has looked off the pace for much of 2026 and is clearly struggling with his fitness having played so frequently.
A testament to that are the statistics. Usually so tidy and competent in possession, six of his eight worst games for pass completion have occurred this calendar year. His seasonal average sits at around 85% in the league this term but across his last nine outings, that has fallen to 81%.
It's proving detrimental to Arsenal's build-up play and it may be that a change is required, even if it's just to refresh the right-hand side of the pitch for a number of games.
Ben White missed the encounter with Spurs through injury and would be the number one candidate to replace Timber but summer signing Cristian Mosquera proved on Sunday that he can perform at right-back too.
Signed for £13m by Andrea Berta over the summer, he looks like one of the bargains of the season, perhaps even one of the signings of the season. A centre-back by trade, the Spaniard has filled in admirably for William Saliba and Gabriel when they have been injured but his performance at full-back was surprising.
Arsenal-Gyokeres-Zubimendi-Odegaard-Mosquera
Replacing a tired-looking Timber on Sunday, he appeared for the final 33 minutes and was phenomenal, notably winning all five of his duels and losing possession just three times from his 18 touches of the ball.
Timber is "one of the best signings of the Emirates era" in the words of Como scout Ben Mattinson, but no special dispensation must be made; the Netherlands international has looked knackered for a good few weeks now.
Arsenal may have a full week to prepare for the game against Chelsea, but he needs to be taken out of the firing line. This feels like a perfect opportunity for either White or Mosquera to be given a go on the right.
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