London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Tottenham star scores stunning rabona goal but is sent off as Arsenal overcomes rivals in North London Derby

Tottenham star scores stunning rabona goal but is sent off as Arsenal overcomes rivals in North London Derby

Tottenham's Erik Lamela produced an outrageous piece of skill to score a rabona goal but was later sent off in the North London Derby, as Arsenal beat its rivals 2-1 on Sunday in the Premier League.

The Argentina international squirmed the ball through the legs of an opponent and into the bottom corner to give his side the lead, but Martin Ødegaard leveled just before half time.

Alexandre Lacazette's penalty midway through the second period gave Arsenal the lead before Lamela was sent off 10 minutes later after being shown two quick yellow cards.

The result means Tottenham's Champions League qualification push takes a hit, while Arsenal remain in mid-table.

After the defeat, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho criticized referee Michael Oliver after awarding the second half penalty, whilst also admitting his side didn't play well enough in the opening period.

"We played really bad in the first half," he told Sky Sports afterwards. The 1-1 was not a fair reflection of the first-half. We were poor. Defending bad. No intensity or pressing.

"Some important players hiding. Really bad. In the second half, we only had space to improve which we did and then it is a question -- but an impossible one as they don't speak -- for the referee Michael Oliver to answer. Probably Paul Tierney too as he was the VAR.

"What I see from the bench is just a feeling at first. I am 40-50 meters away. I saw it on the iPad. Referees have a difficult job sometimes. I did not complain but when I watch back on the iPad it is what it is. If somebody has a different opinion it has to be one of the big Arsenal fans with a season ticket. It is the only one I accept as it is the passion speaking. Other than that I don't accept a different view as it is obvious."

Lamela scores his rabona goal against Arsenal.


Hero to zero


The North London Derby is the biggest game on the footballing calendars for both clubs and both would have wanted their best players fit and firing.

However, when the teams were announced shortly before kickoff, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on the bench, with manager Mikel Arteta confirming that he had planned for Aubameyang to start but was dropped due to a "disciplinary issue."

According to reports from The Athletic, the Gabon striker reported late when the squad met up earlier today.

However, following 15 minutes and consistent Arsenal pressure -- during which former academy player Emile Smith Rowe smacked the bar with an outstanding long shot -- Tottenham was down a star player, too.

Lamela and Sergio Reguilon celebrate after Lamela scored his team's goal.


After sprinting to chase a speculative long pass from defense, Son Heung-Min pulled up clutching his hamstring before hobbling off to be replaced by Lamela.

And it proved to be an inspired substitution.

The Argentine, without controlling the ball, hit a delightful rabona -- where a player wraps their kicking leg around the back of their standing leg -- through the legs of Thomas Partey and into the bottom corner.

The display of outrageous skill seemed to kickstart the match after a slow opening, with Cedric Soares smashing the post minutes later with Hugo Lloris standing helpless.

Parity was restored on the brink of halftime, and it came from Arsenal's dynamic left-hand side. Having broken away from his defender, Kieran Tierney put in a low cross and Ødegaard's deflected shot squirmed past the despairing Lloris.

Ødegaard (right) celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal against Tottenham.


The second half started with little to separate the two teams until Davidson Sanchez's rash challenge on Lacazette following a miscued shot from the Frenchman gave him the opportunity to give the hosts the lead.

After the game, the 29-year-old admitted to Sky Sports that Arsenal was "lucky to get the penalty." However, he duly stepped up and converted.

For Lamela, it was a case of hero to zero.

Having opened the scoring with a wonderful piece of skill in the first half, he was shown two yellow cards in relative quick succession for two fouls which sent him for an early shower.

Lacazette shoots from the penalty spot to score his team's second goal.


Despite going down to 10 men, and having done relatively little throughout, Tottenham's superstar striker Harry Kane thought he'd grabbed a late equalizer with a fine headed finish, only for the offside flag to rule it out.

There was even more late drama as Kane struck the post with a freekick in the dying moments and the follow-up was blocked with the goalkeeper floundering.

"Full credit for the way we have done it today after two days coming back from Europe," Arteta told Sky Sports afterwards. "It was incredible. Going 1-0 down the way we were playing was disappointing and worst case scenario against a team like Spurs. But we kept playing and deserve the win.

"Last 10 minutes we did not manage the game and we need to improve on as a team. We relied on luck. With the way we played we should have seen it out comfortably."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×