Arsenal registered a huge win over Tottenham on Saturday, keeping them top of the Premier League and moving four points clear of their North London rivals. The home side got off to a quick start in the game thanks to Thomas Partey, with the midfielder's curling effort outside the box beating the outstretched hand of Hugo Lloris.
Ten minutes later, the visitors would draw level as Gabriel Magalhaes fouled Richarlison in the box, allowing Harry Kane to equalise from the spot. The second half had plenty of action too as Gabriel Jesus gave Arsenal the lead once again by pouncing on a loose ball in the box.
The game continued in the Gunners' favour as Emerson Royal was sent off for Tottenham due to a high challenge on Gabriel Martinelli. Granit Xhaka then secured all three points with his curling effort, ensuring a comfortable end to the game for the side to enjoy.
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While Mikel Arteta seemed more than pleased with his side, Antonio Conte believed that the refereeing decisions went against his side. ""Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are unlucky," Conte said in reflection of the game. "The red card killed the game, this is truth, but not because we remained with 10 men but because [our] team [was] really, really offensive and also in the four or five minutes to make the substitutions, we were so offensive that it was really difficult to defend and we conceded the third goal.
"I don't know what happened later but in England, I have to be honest, it is very difficult because they don't have the same line, you understand? Sometimes you see situations that could be a red card, instead yellow card or no yellow card.
"Sometimes you see situations that are yellow card but instead [it is] a red card. They have to work a lot about this. In Italy for example, our referees they go on Thursday to stay together [for] three days to work together, to look at video to try to improve.
"I don't know if this happens in England but it would be a good idea because the level is so high, we need to have the level of the referee, of the VAR, at the same level, you understand, because the Premier League is a really high, high level. For this reason, every part of this situation, in my opinion, has to be top."
While debate swirls around whether it was a red card or not, some eagle-eyed Arsenal fans pointed out some potential hypocrisy from Conte just a few months ago in the last North London Derby. In that game, Rob Holding was on the end of a red card that frustrated Arteta.
"He’s [Arteta] just started to do this job and I think that I hear him complain a lot," The Italian said back in May. "I think that he needs to be focused more on his team and not to complain, because he has just started his work and I think he has to be calm and to try to continue to work. Because he’s very good but to listen to a coach complain a lot of time is not good.”
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