Tottenham was playing much better than expected, and even the Arsenal players had to acknowledge how successful Pochettino's transformation of Tottenham had been.
The match gradually settled into a stalemate, and the tension in the air grew, making everyone anxious. Physical confrontations between players began to increase, warming up what had been a slightly subdued atmosphere.
Le Kai found himself caught between Lamela and the ball. Lamela pressed relentlessly from both sides, trying to win possession, while Le Kai held firm in the middle.
In a sudden move, Lamela shoved Le Kai to the ground. Le Kai immediately passed the ball out as he fell. Lamela, tripping over him, ended up leaning his full weight against Le Kai's back.
Annoyed, Le Kai grabbed Lamela's jersey and pushed him away.
Getting up, Lamela charged back at Le Kai, shoving him again. Le Kai raised his hand, pressing Lamela's chest and pushing him to the ground once more.
The clash occurred in the corner during an Arsenal attack, so it went largely unseen. When the referee looked their way, both were separated by Navas.
Referee Herb Dean paused the match and quickly contacted the Fourth Official and the immediate linesman. Fans in the stadium murmured in confusion, curious about what had happened, while commentators requested replays.
The decision came: e Kai received a yellow card, Lamela a warning.
Grumbling as he got to his feet, Le Kai muttered, "Damn home advantage. If it weren't for that, Lamela would've been off." He had no choice but to accept it.
In the Sports broadcast, Martin Taylor and Alan Smith leaned in, curious:
"What actually happened down there? Why did both Le Kai and Lamela face off?"
The replay showed it clearly: Lamela pushed Le Kai first, Kai shoved him back, Lamela shoved again, and Le Kai forced him down once more.
Martin and Alan Smith exchanged looks, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
"Lamela started it! He pushed first. Kai deserved a yellow, but Lamela probably did too. Herb Dean, I believed, didn't want to kill the game," Alan Smith commented, shaking his head.
Even Lamela, though technically the instigator, was frustrated. Being tossed around by Le Kai wasn't something he could enjoy.
On the field, Di Maria looked uncomfortable. One was the club captain, the other a national teammate, and he didn't want to offend either. He chose to stay out of it.
Kai picked up his fourth yellow card, and the match resumed.
Time was running out in the first half. Arsenal struggled to finish; passes lacked sharpness, Suarez was tightly marked, and Di Maria and Sanchez couldn't find a rhythm. Cazorla tried a few long-range efforts, but nothing threatened Tottenham's goal. Tottenham, in turn, couldn't breach Arsenal's defense.
With Kai dropping back, Arsenal's pressure grew heavier. They lost possession frequently, rarely getting near the penalty area. The stalemate persisted.
In the stands, fans from both sides bickered loudly.
"Disgusting Tottenham! Is that even football?" shouted an Arsenal supporter.
" Spurs being spursy as usual!" another yelled.
"We came to your turf and took over. Hold that, you fraud of a North London club!"
"North London belongs to Arsenal!"
Tottenham fans fired back:
"Arsenal haven't scored, you gooning idiots!"
Security stayed alert but didn't need to intervene, as the confrontation stayed verbal.
Kai watched the game closely. Arsenal moved the ball well but couldn't create clear chances. He felt stifled, wanting to shout at his teammates to stop passing and just shoot.
Finally, Di Maria broke through, earning Arsenal a corner. Kai's eyes lit up.
"Watch for their counterattack. I'm going up for the header!" he told N'Golo Kanté, who nodded.
Le Kai sprinted into the box. Tottenham players immediately sensed the danger.
"Arsenal have a corner, probably the last of the first half. Le Kai's up for the header! Can they break the stalemate?"
Cazorla delivered the corner, sending the ball high into the box. Vertonghen marked Kai tightly, but Kai jumped faster than expected.
Vertonghen struggled to keep up, watching Le Kai almost glide through the air, reaching the ball at the perfect height. Le Kai twisted his upper body and neck just right, connecting perfectly with his forehead. The ball soared toward the far post.
Lloris couldn't react in time. The ball hit the post and bounced into the net.
At 44:20, Arsenal broke the deadlock. Le Kai's header from a corner gave them the crucial lead.
"Kai! He jumps for the header!" Martin shouted, slapping the table.
"Gooooooooooooooooal! Arsenal lead! Le Kai again! The captain steps up to the plate with a powerful header to end the first half."
"Number four, leading Arsenal, breaking the deadlock! What a moment!"
...
When Christian Eriksen made the move to Tottenham, many described him as the next Luka Modrić. Over time, that comparison felt justified.
Since Modrić's departure, Eriksen had become the player who gave Spurs rhythm and balance in midfield. Last season, his influence was central to their top-five finish in the Premier League.
On this occasion, however, he found little space to operate. It was not that he played poorly. Arsenal simply restricted him well, cutting passing lanes and pressing at the right moments.
Up front, Emmanuel Adebayor struggled to impose himself. As the focal point of Tottenham's attack, he was expected to stretch the defence and hold the ball.
Instead, he was repeatedly double-marked by N'Golo Kanté and Shkodran Mustafi. Under that pressure, his composure faded, and frustration crept in. Spurs' attacking shape began to lose structure, and their moves broke down too easily.
Interestingly, Tottenham's back line performed better than expected. They held their shape and dealt with several dangerous phases. Even so, based on the overall flow of the match, it was difficult to see how they would turn it around.
In contrast, Arsenal supporters were enjoying every minute. The team had been strong all season, and in this North London Derby, they looked in control. The scoreline showed only one goal in the first half, yet the balance of play told a clearer story.
Arsenal dictated the tempo and chose when to accelerate. That sense of authority pleased the fans most. If they maintained that rhythm, more chances would come.
On Sky Sports, Martin Taylor summed it up calmly.
"This has been a very assured display from Arsenal. They look comfortable in possession, and Tottenham are being forced to chase."
Alan Smith added, "Eriksen's influence has been reduced. Arsenal have done their homework. Kanté in particular has been tireless."
Elsewhere in London, inside a large manor house, Prince Harry was far less composed. Dressed casually and surrounded by the remains of snacks, he was on his feet, punching the air toward the television.
"That's it. That's how we play. We're not losing to Tottenham. This is Arsenal!"
He laughed loudly and jumped from the sofa to the floor, unable to sit still. A few staff members nearby quietly turned away, pretending not to notice.
Since stepping back from royal duties, he had relaxed his public image. Formality had given way to open emotion, especially on matchdays.
The sound of heels approached from the hallway. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, entered the room. She dismissed the staff with a gentle instruction, then looked at her husband with mild concern.
"Henry, even if we're away from the Palace, you still need to think about your image."
He waved her over, eyes fixed on the screen. "Come and watch. We're taking control of this derby."
She sat beside him, smiling. "Arsenal have scored. Let me guess. Was it Kai?"
He turned instantly, delighted. "Exactly. It's him. I told you, he's the future of this club. He steps up every time."
Prince Harry continued, almost talking over the broadcast. "He always does this. When it matters, he delivers. You can rely on him."
Meghan watched both the screen and her husband. She understood how much the player meant to him. Over the past few seasons, Kai had grown from a disciplined holding midfielder into a leader who influenced every phase of play.
Prince Harry rarely missed one of his matches.
Meghan spoke gently. "Your birthday is coming up. Is there anything you would like?"
He paused, the excitement fading slightly. "It doesn't matter."
The celebration meant returning to Kensington Palace, a place tied to complicated memories. For a moment, he looked away from the screen.
"Come sit beside me," Prince Harry patted the couch," The second half is about to begin."
Meghan shook her head with a smile before taking the seat next to him, which prompted him to side-hug her and plant a kiss on her cheek.
This drew a bigger smile from her as she leaned into him to watch the second half.
Back on the pitch, the second half began with Arsenal pressing high. They gave Tottenham little time on the ball. Kai operated around the centre circle, directing play with short, controlled passes. With a one-goal advantage, his priority was clear. Protect the structure first, then look for opportunities to extend the lead.
Alexis Sánchez, meanwhile, played with increasing urgency. Supported well by the midfield, he found space on the wing and attacked repeatedly. His first half had been quiet by his standards, and he seemed determined to change that.
Kyle Naughton faced a difficult task. Sánchez ran at him again and again, cutting inside, then driving toward the byline. Each movement forced Naughton a step deeper.
"Someone give me a hand," Naughton shouted, glancing toward his teammates.
But Spurs were already stretched. No one could break away to help.
Sánchez closed in once more. Naughton prepared to lunge, but the winger executed a sharp Marseille turn, spinning away and bursting into the penalty area.
Martin Taylor raised his voice. "Sánchez is through, brilliant turn."
Alan Smith responded quickly, "Naughton's been isolated all half. That was only a matter of time."
Naughton turned, panic clear on his face.
"F**k!."
. . .
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