The bragging rights remain in the white side of North London as Tottenham overcame a dominant Arsenal side to win 2-1 with goals from Van Der Vart, Walker and Ramsey. It was a similar sight for all Arsenal fans yesterday; we had more possession, more clear cut chances but we allowed ourselves to be wasteful that allowed Tottenham to exploit our failing defense.
Lack of potency
Tottenham were labelled favourites before the game and even though they came out with the 3 points I still don’t wholly argue with that. Speaking with Tottenham fans after the game it was agreed that Arsenal was in fact the better team throughout the game but just became too wasteful with possession, and often losing the ball with wayward passing which Ramsey was guilty of on several occasions.
Scott Parker, a player that most Arsenal fans would have loved to have signed this summer had a chance to make his mark on his first North London derby when he shot straight at Szcenesy after being put through on goal by Van Der Vart. At the other end a brilliant run by Van Persie down the left flank opened up Tottenham’s defense and his cut back found an unmarked Gervinho who could only fire wide.
It was Tottenham first on the score sheet when on the counter attack, Van Der Vart found space between Sagna and Mertesacker, completely unmarked, and Adebayor’s cross was ‘chested’ down and put away to Szcenesy’s left. You can easily say that with Van Der Vart already on a yellow the handball would have resulted with him being sent off and the game being completely different but then that takes away the fact we allowed him to find a massive hole in our defense.
To sum up the half, Arsenal showed yet again how to control possession and not turn it into chances. Our tempo being slow going forward and Van Persie became an isolated figure up top on his own. Walcott’s pace wasn’t being utilized on the right and Gervinho’s mazy runs ended with the ball at Tottenham’s feet.
Szczesny foiled
Arsenal came out the second half fighting and it took a run down the left by our centre back for the day Song to find Ramsey to fire in from close range. This came after yet another failed Arsenal cross that was cleared without contest but only to find Song who had room down the left to surprise the Yids. This could have been the springboard to allow Arsenal to grab hold of this game and use the momentum to get on top of Tottenham. Despite our goal it was Tottenham who had the best chances to grab the lead with Szcenesy typically solid for us at the back.
Adebayor had the best chance of the second half to come back and haunt us…again, after he got in behind our defense, keeping himself onside, and got into a one on one situation against Szcenesy. Once again Szcenesy, like all season, he has come to our rescue and brilliantly saved to his left but that was to come undone by Kyle Walker who collected the ball from Songs block and let fly from outside the area. Looking back at the replay’s Szcenesy had a good view of the shot but the ball looked to take a dive very late on which caught Szcenesy out. He’ll be very disappointed with himself but in the end of the day it took a very good goal for Tottenham to beat us in a game that would have been fairer staying at a draw.
Our realistic target
I think it’s fair to say we’re going to be keeping an eye on 4th place this season, fighting the likes of Tottenham & Liverpool for it. For that to happen though something’s got to change and someone needs to step up and make the difference in this Arsenal side. We’re filled with excellent players but I fear our formation is keeping the likes of Walcott & RVP out of the game. We could switch to a 4-4-2 and have Chamakh/Walcott up top with RVP supporting but we don’t have many out and out wingers, which would relegate Walcott out wide again.
Despite our awful start the season we haven’t suddenly become a bad side and the departures of Cesc & Nasri doesn’t mean we’ve fallen behind the likes of Tottenham. One thing to remember is that they weren’t defenders and it’s our defense that’s causing usthe most issues. On that front with news that Sagna is now out for 3 months, which we’ll all agree to expect longer, we’re now exceptionally short at the back. Anyone miss Eboue?
ARSENAL: Szczesny 6, Sagna 6 (Jenkinson 5), Mertesacker 5, Song 6, Gibbs 6, Ramsey 7, Arteta 5, Coquelin 6, Walcott 5 (Benayoun 5), Van Persie 6, Gervinho 5 (Arshavin 5)
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