Mikel Arteta became just the second manager in Arsenal's history to lose his first two North London derbies as Tottenham Hotspur won on their own turf on Sunday evening.
The Gunners dominated the ball but Spurs were never seriously troubled, with Jose Mourinho's men tactically outclassing their opponents and marching to a 2-0 win courtesy of a Son Heung-min stunner and a close-range Harry Kane goal.
Arteta's first North London derby in the dugout was also on Tottenham's territory last season, and the Gunners lost that one 2-1 after a late Toby Alderweireld header sealed the points for Spurs back in July.
By losing his first two games against Arsenal's bitter rivals, Arteta has become the first Gunners manager since Bertie Mee in the 1966-67 campaign to record back-to-back defeats in his opening two games in charge against Tottenham.
In contrast, Arteta's managerial rival Mourinho recorded his 11th home game against Arsenal without defeat, with the Portuguese manager having a better record on familiar territory over the Gunners than any other side in the Premier League.
Arsenal, who languish in 15th place in the English top flight, travel to Dundalk in the Europa League in midweek before welcoming Burnley to the Emirates Stadium next Sunday.
Ben Knapton
