Sun Sep 15 16:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Arsenal Edge Past Spurs in North London Derby, Set-Piece Woes Haunt Tottenham

**London, England** – Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham in a tense North London derby, with Gabriel Magalhaes heading home the winning goal from a Bukayo Saka corner. The win extended Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season, while Tottenham suffered their first league defeat.

The match, played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was a tight affair with both sides creating chances. However, it was a familiar weakness that ultimately proved decisive for Spurs.

Gabriel’s goal, scored in the second half, was the 18th set-piece goal Tottenham have conceded this year. The situation is particularly concerning for manager Ange Postecoglou, whose side have conceded an alarming 13 goals from corners in 2024 alone – the second highest total in the Premier League.

Postecoglou, despite repeated questions about his team’s set-piece vulnerabilities, insisted that he is addressing the issue and is confident that his side will improve in this area. “I understand people think I don’t care about set-pieces, but we work on them all the time,” he said. “We handled them well for most of the game today, but we switched off in one moment and paid the price.”

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, however, was more critical. “When I look at Tottenham, certainly from set-pieces, it feels like fear,” he stated. “It feels like they’re scared.”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville also highlighted the poor defending of Spurs, specifically criticizing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s lack of dominance and Romero’s inability to stay tight to Gabriel.

Following the defeat, Tottenham captain Heung-Min Son admitted that set-pieces are an area that needs to be addressed. “The football was there, we dominated the game,” he said. “It was the lack of details and we conceded two goals last season to set-pieces and today is also about set-pieces. That’s the details that change results in big games.”

The result, despite being a disappointment for Tottenham, will likely be a wake-up call for Postecoglou. The team’s ability to create chances was evident, but the lack of defensive solidity, particularly from set-pieces, is a concerning trend that needs to be rectified quickly if Spurs are to achieve their ambitions this season.

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