ARSENAL scored three straight goals in the second half to turn a tense derby against archrival Tottenham Hotspur into a foregone conclusion, winning 4-2 and earning arguably the biggest win thus far of Unai Emery’s managerial tenure.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the Gunners a first-half lead with a penalty, but Spurs seized the advantage back with two goals within four minutes.

Around 20 minutes later, Alexandre Lacazette gave Arsenal back the lead, and Lucas Torreira put the game to bed a few minutes later with a clever finish. Tottenham was reduced to 10 men when Jan Vertonghen received a second yellow for an ugly kickout challenge at Lacazette in the 85th minute.

The victory vaults Arsenal past Spurs in the Premier League table, with the Gunners now fourth and level with Tottenham on points but ahead on goal differential.

Time will tell if Arsenal can return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Sunday’s result at the Emirates was a good start.

There were also wins for Liverpool and Chelsea on what proved to be a thrilling day of local derbies in the English top flight.

A tense and hard-fought Merseyside derby looked destined to finish in a goalless stalemate Sunday after Virgil van Dijk skied a speculative, mishit shot high into the air — and seemingly out of play — in the sixth minute of injury time.

Then came the most dramatic ending imaginable.

The ball bounced on top of the crossbar not just once but twice, firstly off the fingertips of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Time seemed to stand still as the ball dropped down to Liverpool striker Divock Origi to nod into the net from a meter out to secure a 1-0 win in extraordinary circumstances.

“For me, the situation was finished when the ball left (Van Dijk’s) foot,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said, scratching his head.

Klopp had reacted to the goal by running onto the field and punching the air, before jumping into the arms of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

“I didn’t want to be disrespectful,” Klopp said, “but I couldn’t stop myself. It just happened.”

By losing in the cruelest of ways, Everton remains without a win at Anfield since 1999.

Second-placed Liverpool moved back to within two points of Manchester City after 14 games in the Premier League. City won the title last season by a record 19 points but it promises to be much closer a year on.

Days after being on the end of some rare criticism, N’Golo Kante showed just why he is such an important player for Chelsea. The France midfielder set up the first goal in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham by breaking up play near halfway, driving forward at pace, and then laying the ball off for Pedro Rodriguez to score in the fourth minute.

(SD-Agencies)