Arsenal’s resurgence continued with a 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur as the two north London clubs continued to move in opposite directions in the Premier League on Sunday.

Goals by Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka crowned a majestic first-half display by a youthful Arsenal who were sharper and hungrier than a listless Tottenham.

Smith Rowe swept in Arsenal’s opener in the 12th minute and then set up Aubameyang in the 27th minute and when Saka made it 3-0 in the 34th minute the hosts were running riot.

There was a little more fight about Tottenham after the break and Son Heung-min pulled a goal back with little over 10 minutes remaining, but it was too little too late for the visitors whose early-season optimism has evaporated.

After losing their opening three Premier League games without scoring a goal, Arsenal have now won three in a row and are above Tottenham who, after winning their opening three to top the table, have lost three London Derbies in succession, conceding nine goals in the process.

Arsenal, who were bottom after three games, are now in 10th place with nine points, ahead of Tottenham on goals scored.

It is a dramatic reversal of fortune for the two clubs and while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appears to have steadied the ship after a calamitous start, his opposite number Nuno Espirito Santo faces a tough task pulling his side out of their slump.

Tottenham have won only once in their last 29 league games away to Arsenal, but the nature of Sunday’s first-half capitulation will be a worry for their supporters.

Too many of their players under-performed and their confidence looks shredded as they conceded three or more goals in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since 2003.

In contrast Arsenal, who fielded their youngest starting side for a home league game against Spurs since 1988, are buoyant.

Right from the start, there was urgency about Arsenal and they needed only 12 minutes to take the lead.

Saka glided all too easily past Sergio Reguilon on the right before delivering a low cross for Smith Rowe to stroke a first-time shot past keeper Hugo Lloris.

Thomas Partey forced Lloris into a fine save and although Son did work Aaron Ramsdale with a powerful angled drive it was a rare moment of threat from the visitors.

Arsenal’s second was the result of a scintillating counter-attack that sliced Tottenham apart. Aubameyang’s clever touch released Smith Rowe on the halfway line and the Gabon striker steamed forward to get on the end of Smith Rowe’s cut back before shooting past Lloris.

The home fans were in raptures in the 35th minute when Harry Kane, trying to make amends for losing possession, slid in to tackle Saka but the ball broke kindly for his England teammate who angled a shot past Lloris.

Tottenham replaced Dele Alli and Japhet Tanganga at half-time although any number of their players might have been hooked off, such was the dismal quality of the visitors’ display.

Earlier, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat winless Southampton 1-0 at St Mary’s Stadium after Mexican striker Raul Jimenez scored his first goal in nearly a year.

Bruno’s message

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes was left frustrated after missing his stoppage-time penalty in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa but the midfielder vowed to come back stronger.

Kortney Hause’s 88th-minute header put Villa in the lead but the defender’s handball gifted United a chance to steal a point, only for Fernandes to blaze the ball high over the bar.

“Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed than me for missing the penalty and the consequent defeat,” Fernandes said on Instagram.

“Criticism and contrasting opinions are a big part of football. I’ve learned to live with it, even using them to drive me on, and I consider it all a very important part of my commitment to never stop trying to improve.

“I will come back stronger, because these are the standards I hold myself to, but most of all for my teammates and our fans who have always supported us.”

Pep feat

Pep Guardiola became Manchester City’s most successful manager in terms of wins as his side earned a deserved 1-0 victory at Chelsea.

The Spaniard began the game level with Les McDowall on 220 victories but edged ahead thanks to Gabriel Jesus’s 53rd-minute effort at Stamford Bridge.

McDowall managed City for 592 games, however, while Guardiola, who has won the Premier League title three times since arriving five years ago, has overseen 303 matches.

McDowall, manager between 1950 to 1963, led City to only one FA Cup win in 1956 while Guardiola has won eight trophies with them.

It makes me proud, a little bit for myself but especially for the club,” Guardiola told reporters.