After the long, dark teatime of the soul we call the international break, Tottenham Hotspur were back in action with an early North London Derby. After a mixed start to the season, it was a chance for Spurs to put a marker in the sand against a strong team and claim North London bragging rights. Instead, they will be wondering what could have been after Arsenal nicked a goal arguably against the run of play to take all three points.
Both sides were hit by injury, with Arsenal missing Riccardo Calafiori and captain Martin Odegaard due to knocks picked up on international duty, with Tottenham likewise missing Yves Bissouma for the same reason as he was replaced in the Spurs XI by Rodrigo Bentancur. Declan Rice also missed the match for Arsenal due to suspension, but Spurs had some more positive news as both Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven returned from injury to start for the Lilywhites.
Dejan Kulusevski had the first shot on target of the match after a cagey but controlled start from Spurs, with the home side dominating the ball. Solanke had a golden chance soon thereafter to open both the scoring and his Tottenham account after the ball fell to him in space at the top of the Arsenal box after good work by Son Heung-min in the press, but the striker strangely opted not to shoot and instead lost possession. Arsenal always looked a threat going forward, however, and it was only the gloves of Guglielmo that kept the ledger empty as he made an excellent save off a Kai Havertz header, before Gabriel Martinelli spurned a huge opportunity of his own: shooting straight at the Italian when in behind the Tottenham defense.
Solanke came close once more, looping a header past both the outstretched arms of David Raya and the post, but the real star of the first half was the referee’s book. Jarred Gillett handed out seven yellows in the first 45, with William Saliba, Destiny Udogie, Bentancur, van de Ven, and Kulusevski all recipients; but it was two others, Jurrien Timber and Vicario, that led to an early flashpoint after the Arsenal left back collected Pedro Porro with a high boot. A late Brennan Johnson shot was the only further moment of note as the first half finished goalless.
The Spurs press, which had some good moments in the first half, was in full effect at the start of the second, with Solanke working well to win the ball before his header deflected wide. Van de Ven soon had a header of his own saved following a set piece, but unfortunately the same couldn’t be said at the other end, as Gabriel leapt highest on an Arsenal corner to score the match’s solitary goal. The Brazilian gave Cristian Romero a bit of a shove to create space for himself, but it was never enough to overturn the goal, and Romero should have been stronger.
Ange Postecoglou immediately made substitutions in response, with Pape Matar Sarr coming on for Bentancur and Wilson Odobert for Johnson as Tottenham pushed for an equalizer, before Postecoglou made an even more aggressive change: Timo Werner on for James Maddison. Mikel Arteta responded with some Arsenal substitutions, with Leandro Trossard and Martinelli making way for Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, before Bukayo Saka limped off to be replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.
Unfortunately for Spurs, even the aggressive subs weren’t enough to break down the Arsenal backline, as Tottenham were reduced to hopeful crosses and long-range speculators before the referee drew the match to a close with the scoreline Tottenham 0, Arsenal 1.
Reactions
- This was really disappointing, and like I referenced above, it felt like Arsenal were there for the taking (especially at home and the players they had missing). With that in mind, not taking even a single point from that match hurts.
- The reality is that Spurs didn’t do enough to win. The attack did not create enough, and in the moments where it looked like Spurs could generate a big chance, players took poor options. The attack has to be better, even against a strong defense like Arsenal’s.
- On a more positive note, Tottenham’s press was excellent, and Dominic Solanke was a huge part of that. He’ll be regretting not taking that shot in the first half, though.
- Seven yellow cards in the first half is apparently a record for a Premier League match, but it’s hard to argue against many of them; in fact, you could argue there should have been a couple more, with a few Arsenal challenges perhaps deserving of the same treatment.
- I’ve often been critical of Dejan Kulusevski (or moreso his fit in the Tottenham side), but he was very good today, working hard and at the epicenter of most of Spurs’ best moves.
- It feels a little like Groundhog Day, conceding a set piece goal, but honestly Spurs were pretty decent on defending those today… except for that one moment. Cuti should have done better.
- I wonder how different things may have looked with Yves Bissouma in the side as well… but you can drive yourself crazy with that kind of thinking.
- Coventry are up next midweek in the League Cup. Hopefully that match will be a nice palate cleaner. COYS!
