Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham: Arteta and Lacazette react.

FT: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham.

Lacazette secures win against Arsenal in the north London derby [Getty]

The Gunners came from behind to deservedly win the north London derby on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal team deserves full credit for the way they came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

Midfielder Erik Lamela opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium just after the hour mark with an impressive Rabona goal.

But the Gunners responded through Martin Odegaard’s deflected strike and Alexandre Lacazette's penalty, as they ran out winners against the Lilywhites on Sunday evening.

Arteta’s side did hit the woodwork twice during the game and they looked sharper in the attack.

Substitute Lamela was shown a red for a second bookable offence 12 minutes after Arsenal took the lead, while England captain Harry Kane saw his headed goal ruled out for off-side and he also hit the post with a late free-kick.

Arteta reacts: “Full credit for the way we did it.”

Arteta told Sky Sports: "Full credit for the way we have done it today after two days coming back from Europe. 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.

"We prepare the game trying to exploit areas. We had some really strong performances today. You could see the energy they were playing with.

"It is about how you react. This team have the reaction in them to not give up. We kept playing and generating chances and got rewarded. We play quite well in the previous derbies but they are so efficient. They don't need much to score. You see with Lamela today. A quality goal."

On Aubameyang, who was dropped and disciplined by Arteta because he was late for a meeting, the Spaniard answered: "He is an incredible guy and one of the most important players in the team. He is our captain and these things happen.

“We have lots going on in our lives and people finding it hard with the restrictions. I will never tell anything that happens in the dressing room."

Striker Alexandre Lacazette added: "It is amazing. We wanted to win this game for us and the team and the fans. We missed them today. It was important to win the derby though.

"It is stressful. This is our problem. When we are winning we struggle to manage the game at the end. We need to improve. But we won and now we can think of Thursday. It is important to win this type of game.

"We are lucky to get the penalty, I think. But of course, I am happy. Back in the days, I have taken a lot of penalties against him [Hugo Lloris] but I was confident.

"It is not easy to sit on the bench for big games. I don't think there was anything against [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang]. It was the decision of the coach. I will let you ask him about this."

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