Anguish for Arsenal versus invincible Spurs
Another North London Derby has been and gone. With so many emotions running high during, and in the aftermath of the game, it’s worth taking some time to reflect on the match and result. Alex Nayler takes a look at what the point means for Tottenham.
After attending another record breaking attendance at Wembley on Wednesday, only to see the 11 on the pitch not show up, I was sceptical and immensely wary of how the fixture against Arsenal would pan out.
However, the boys is white really showed up when it mattered, to stretch the unbeaten league run to 11 games, and the gaffers personal bragging rights versus the Gooners to 5 unbeaten in the league since he took charge.
Whilst the two sides have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent years when playing each other, the match ups have been tight. This went to show midway through the first half when the possession stats showed there was no splitting them on the ball.
Harry Kane had the best of the early chances, before Wimmer unfortunately netted at the wrong end, from a spectacularly bent in freekick. The Austrian can consider himself unlucky though, with hindsight, given that a series of Arsenal players were queuing up in offside positions behind him, all ready to be flagged if he didn’t make an effort to get a nod on it. A dubious call from the officials to say the least.
With the injury woes at Spurs currently, it meant the bench was a bit sparse experience wise. However, whilst the team was without three key players in Alderweireld, Lamela and Dele, they bore the brunt of any Arsenal attack more than capably.
Whilst Arsenal went in at half time the more jovial, Spurs didn’t let the single goal margin get to them. In particular Kevin Wimmer had an outstanding second half, when you think he received an early yellow on top of the catastrophic OG. However, the man of the match was Mousa Dembele, as he has been on countless occasions for the Lilywhites.
The penalty won by the Belgian was coolly slotted home by the ever reliable Harry Kane. Never a doubt. The dream return for the injured striker, and 5 in 4 league games versus Arsenal.
The draw may seem another poor result for Spurs, who are without a win since they beat City, but the manner in which the team played was outstanding and would have pleased the “travelling” fans. After the atrocity of the midweek performance, it was a delight for the Spurs faithful to see the team playing the high pressing game of last season again.
The league at the top is still tight, with Liverpool taking top spot after match week 11. Tottenham sit 5 points behind in 5th place, however, with plenty of positives to take out of the North London Derby, you shouldn’t rule Spurs out of anything.