Image: Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League 2
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Arsenal 2 (Debuchy, Mavididi (pen))
Arsenal U23s registered another impressive victory today as an emphatic strike from the returning Mathieu Debuchy helped them to prevail past rivals Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 victory.
Debuchy, who hasn’t featured for the first-team this season due to injury, played 70 minutes and opened the scoring just prior to being withdrawn before Arsenal doubled their tally through a late penalty from Stephy Mavididi.
Tottenham found matters difficult and their situation was compounded when centre-back Charlie Owens was sent off for a foul.
Arsenal coach Steve Gatting made a solitary alteration from the side that thrashed Sunderland last time out, with Debuchy replacing Chiori Johnson at right-back.
Macey
Debuchy-Bielik-Sheaf-M. Bola
Bennacer-Zelalem
Nelson-Hinds-C. Willock
Mavididi
Subs: Johnson (for Debuchy, 70). Not used: Keto, DaSilva, Dragomir, Nketiah.
Arsenal impressed early on, but it was Tottenham who created the first meaningful opportunity of the game with Tom Carroll finding Shayon Harrison, who was unable to get the better of Matt Macey.
At the other end Mavididi forced Pau Lopez into a good save, then Reiss Nelson, so often Arsenal’s standout player at this level, saw his effort kept out.
The game became increasingly open in the second half, with Arsenal gradually becoming increasingly in command of proceedings.
Krystian Bielik should have found the net from close range but another defender would get on the scoresheet not long afterwards, with Debuchy rifling home after latching onto Chris Willock’s precise cross.
Any hope that Tottenham had of immediately clawing their way back into the game was put paid to as Owens was dismissed.
Arsenal took full advantage of their numerical superiority and began to push forwards with increased regularity. Firstly the impressive Nelson saw his effort saved after he was found by Zelalem and then the outcome of the game was put beyond doubt when Kaylen Hinds was brought down in the area and Mavididi converted from the spot.
Tottenham had a late chance, with Anton Walkes coming close to reducing the deficit, but Arsenal’s two goal lead remained intact.
Next up for the young Gunners is a home game against Leicester City.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 