Ballistic Bale Stuns Spurs in North London DerbyBallistic Bale Stuns Spurs in North London Derby In a pulsating North London Derby, Gareth Bale returned to haunt his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, with a remarkable performance that propelled Arsenal to a stunning 3-2 victory. The Welshman, who joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January, scored twice and assisted another to overturn Tottenham’s early lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham started brightly and took the lead through Son Heung-min’s cool finish in the first half. Arsenal, however, responded with a flurry of goals. Bale leveled the scores with a venomous strike into the top corner, a thunderous reminder of his world-class ability. Minutes later, Bale turned provider, finding Kieran Tierney with a cross that the Scot headed home to put Arsenal ahead. The Welshman then sealed the victory in the second half with a stunning free-kick that curled over the wall and into the far corner. Spurs battled back in the dying minutes, with Harry Kane scoring a penalty to reduce the deficit. However, Arsenal held on to secure a crucial three points in the race for Champions League qualification. Bale’s performance was a masterpiece of attacking brilliance. His pace, power, and accuracy proved too much for Tottenham’s defense. The Welshman demonstrated that he is still a force to be reckoned with, even at 32 years old. “Gareth was fantastic tonight,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “He showed his class and his importance to the team. He is a winner and he makes everyone around him play better.” Spurs manager Jose Mourinho admitted that Bale’s goals were “unstoppable.” He said, “Arsenal deserved to win. They were the better team, especially in the second half.” The victory marked Arsenal’s tenth in their last 13 matches. The Gunners are now in ninth place in the Premier League table, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Tottenham, meanwhile, dropped to eighth place, level on points with Arsenal. The North London Derby lived up to its billing as a thrilling and intense encounter. Gareth Bale’s heroics will be remembered as one of the most iconic moments in the rivalry’s history. With the race for Champions League qualification reaching a crescendo, Arsenal will be looking to Bale for inspiration as they aim to return to Europe’s elite competition next season.
