4 things we learned from Arsenal’s north London derby win at Tottenham
FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – One of the best omens Arsenal could muster on their most recent trip up to Tottenham was that they last won two games on the spin at Spurs in the same calendar year as their last Premier League title (2004).
Sunday’s trip along the Seven Sisters Road confirmed Arsenal’s place at the top of the Premier League standings for another week at least.
Mikel Arteta’s side led 3-0 at half-time, but they just about avoided a full-blown collapse and managed to escape as 3-2 victors. Tottenham gave themselves too much to do and were punished for their defensive deficiencies.
Here’s what we learned from another classic north London derby…
Ever since their days as the Invincibles, Arsenal’s worst enemy has been themselves.
Tottenham barely had a whiff of blood until David Raya skewed the ball to the feet of Cristian Romero. The Gunners kept their host at bay until Declan Rice decided to hoof Ben Davies in the groin.
But fortunately for Arsenal, they were already in an unassailable lead, and their game-plan paid off.
Arsenal had played three times since Spurs‘ last game. The theory was a much-refreshed Tottenham would be able to win physical duels much easier than usual and suffocate their rivals. If a victory was to swing the way of the visitors, then they would need to pick and choose their moments rather than simply try and outlast Tottenham.
And so that’s where the game was won. Arsenal are superb on set pieces, but Tottenham are weak. Arsenal are killers in transition, but Tottenham are meek. Arsenal can slow the game down effectively, but Tottenham need to play at light-speed.
The three-goal buffer brought about by the Gunners‘ cunningness ensured they took all three points.
Arsenal fans began their ’sixty-million down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again‘ chant as a tongue-in-cheek gimmick. It’s involved into a truth.
Havertz looked alarmingly clunky and uncomfortable beginning the season in a midfield role, but has rediscovered his form and confidence playing up top.
After coming back to haunt Chelsea with a brace in their 5-0 mauling of the Blues on Tuesday, he came up with a goal and assist away to Tottenham, firstly finding Bukayo Saka with a pinpoint pass over the top before heading home from a corner.
The lanky German was a proper number nine and false nine as and when needed by his side. There was no player more effective on that pitch. It’s a real renaissance from someone quickly written off last summer.
And yes. He remains Arsenal’s sexy Marouane Fellaini.
Ange Postecoglou’s debut season at Tottenham will likely be credited as a success come the end of May. He found a club, let alone just a team, in shambles after a catastrophic end to the Antonio Conte era.
He’s brought a renewed energy and enthusiasm about this half of north London, but he should not be without criticism.
The Greek-Australian has dismissed concerns over the lack of a specific set-piece coach. His team continue to play with a high line that can become wildly unsustainable in transition. Arsenal pounced on both of those glaring weaknesses.
Tottenham are going in the right direction, but their ceiling will be set by how much Postecoglou – a self-proclaimed problem-solver – can adapt to the rigours of a competitive and modern league he only has a year of experience in.
For all of the criticisms you can (and probably should) level at Tottenham, they look a world apart from the sad-sack bunch that ended the Conte era.
Last year’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on home soil went by with barely a whimper. Even when the chips were down today, when their own fans groaned and bemoaned the three-goal deficit, when all seemed hopeless and without return, Tottenham’s players never shied away from the challenge.
Even a maligned figure like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who got the Arsenal ball rolling with an own goal, shook off his bad-habit finger-pointing and passenger-like demeanour. Spurs‘ defeat was not for Arsenal simply wanting it more.
A derby defeat is always painful and Tottenham need to feel that hurt in order to learn from it and grow, but their on-field mentality towards improvement and responsibility will serve them well. They only need to look over at Arsenal as a shining example of where such universal buy-in can get you in good time.