Bacary Sagna with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Image: Getty)

Bacary Sagna says Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has made a “statement” in the North London derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur and has delivered his verdict on Eddie Nketiah.

The Gunners swept their north London rivals aside to take an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal took the lead after 14 minutes when Hugo Lloris saved a Bukayo Saka cross into his own net.

Arsenal went 2–0 up ten minutes before the break as the impressive Martin Odegaard beat Lloris with a 25-yard strike.

Tottenham tried to recover after the break, but any chances they created were wiped out by Gunners goalkeeper Ramsdale.

“Ramsdale played a great game. He made some crucial saves at key moments,” Sagna, who spent seven years at Arsenal, told FindMyCasino.

“The save against Son just after Arsenal scored was huge and every time he had to step in and fend for himself he did.

Aaron Ramsdale helped Arsenal thwart Tottenham (Image: Getty)

“He made the defense feel safer. Then it’s important to have a good goalkeeper – a good goalkeeper can give you 10-15 points a season. It was a statement from him.”

Despite not scoring, Nketiah led the line well for Arsenal and Sagna has been impressed with the 23-year-old’s contributions since Gabriel Jesus’ World Cup injury.

He added: “I think we have to give credit to Eddie Nketiah. His style is different from other strikers, he’s probably not as tall as other strikers, maybe not as skilled, but he’s doing a great job.

“No one expected him to be in the starting eleven for so long and we can trust him, we have to trust him. Sometimes you need more games to score more goals and have more discipline, but he is doing well and can better.

“He needs time. He’s been loaned out a lot, he’s been criticized and people need to stop criticizing him and get behind him before they look elsewhere.

“Confidence is a big thing in football and I’m sure if he feels the love and not the criticism it could help him a lot. Every time he plays he plays with that pressure.

“If he doesn’t score the critics will be told ‘We don’t have a striker’ but you have to appreciate his dedication and the way he played against the Spurs. He didn’t lose a ball in the first half, won a lot of free-kicks and was an option for the defenders.

“Of course people will judge his efficiency in the penalty area, but how easy does he make life for defenders when they are under pressure, because his team-mates always know where to find him? He’s not big, but he gets between the lines, plays with others and hold the ball.”

Eddie Nketiah has made an impression in Gabriel Jesus' absence

Eddie Nketiah has impressed during Gabriel Jesus’ absence (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have a poor record in North London derbies but turned in an outstanding performance to beat Antonio Contes Spurs to cement their title hopes.

“It was an absolute win,” said Sagna. “It’s never easy playing against Tottenham, they have very good players and it’s a great stadium with a great atmosphere.

“There was also pressure to deal with because City lost. And when I look back on my time, too many times we had to get up and win, but we didn’t. But Arsenal did it against Spurs.

“What impressed me the most was the confidence they had in playing their own football. You absolutely deserved to win. They beat Tottenham from start to finish and created many chances.

“They played as a team and also won the physical fight. They won the second ball and it showed how they played all season.

“It’s a very impressive way to increase the points gap with City: eight points, which is great. Arsenal got promoted at the right time and they’ve done it all season.

“It is no surprise that they are eight points ahead, because they are the best team this season. Two years ago I said I think they will be champions and I hope I’m right.”

Premier League leaders Arsenal return on Sunday with a home game against in-form Manchester United, who defeated Manchester City last weekend.