Arsenal’s mix of talent and tenacity earns long overdue win at Spurs

 

Tottenham 0 Arsenal 2   
Premier League   
Sunday 15th January 2023 4.30pm   

It’s been a long time. The law of averages alone – let alone form and the table – suggested it might be about time for an Arsenal win in this particular fixture. To give you an idea how long ago the Gunners last won at the Lane, Tomas Rosicky scored the winner. Remember him? It feels like another age.

From the off, Arsenal were determined to play their possession football - even in the heightened atmosphere of the North London Derby. This was a very different team from the one that lined up for that decisive midweek evening last May, in the match that turned the race for a Champions League place in Spurs’ favour. 

It was a different feel to Arsenal’s line-up yesterday. The only first choice player unavailable was Jesus. Back in May, Arsenal, did not start the game with Partey (injured), Saliba (on loan), White (injured) and Zinchenko (still at City). Instead it was Elneny, Holding (red carded), Cedric and Tomiyasu eight months ago. Not only that, but the sense of confidence and authority that the current team exudes gave this observer and the majority of Gooners far more optimism. 

Tottenham did have a flurry at the start with Sessingnon getting forward from left wing back and threatening danger, although his delivery was below the quality required. Arsenal then took over and began to dominate. Partey got away without receiving a yellow card for a blatant handball before they took the lead, and more fortune came his team’s way when Lloris made a hash of a deflected Saka cross after 14 minutes had been played, so much so that it was awarded as an own goal. The lead might have only lasted three minutes, as Son had an excellent chance foiled by Ramsdale, the first of a number of saves – mostly in the second half – that proved vital in retaining the away side’s advantage. 

Arsenal’s tactic seemed to be work the ball forward and then feed Saka, and the Spurs’ defence struggled to contain the number 7. Partey almost doubled the lead by hitting the post from long range as the visitors were controlling the game. At times Arsenal resembled Pep-era Barcelona. Their pressing was so intense that Lloris ended up taking a punted long goal kick after 35 minutes, and it came back with interest, as the ball found its way to Odegaard in acres of space outside the box to tee up a shot that the Tottenham keeper couldn’t reach. Two first half bookings for Spurs defenders compounded their misery. 

The killer for the home crowd was that the Gunners were playing the kind of attractive football that they would love to see from their own team, but that isn’t going to happen under Conte. They will tolerate him as long as he is getting the club into the top four, but you do have to wonder whether he is going to hang around for the long term anyway, as the impression he gives is that the club make deals for players that he does not approve of, whilst at the same time refusing to commit to the long-term at the Lane. It’s a bit of a conundrum, and something Arsenal do not have to deal with for as long as Arteta is happy at the club. Spurs did have a chance during first half injury time as Kane forced another save from Ramsdale with a header, a reminder the game was far from over.

The second half was no surprise. Conte geed up his players and they gave a far better account of themselves, creating numerous attacks and limiting the visitors’ threat. Ramsdale was in top form and his keeping a clean sheet was a personal triumph. Arsenal were able to break peridically, and Nketiah might have made things safer with more composure on a couple of occasions, but for the most part it was one way traffic that Arteta’s team weathered. 

Defensive switches were made, with Tierney and Tomiyasu replacing Martinelli and Zinchenko. The latter was a key difference between the two teams as he drifted into the midfield to leave Spurs outnumbered. It did look like a real mismatch at times there in the opening half, as Conte didn’t seem to have an answer as Arsenal played keepball. It is indicative of how the game went that by the end of the match, Tottenham marginally shaded possession. The result was everything, so having established a lead, Arteta’s team went into hold what we have mode, with few risks to allow counter attacks that have proved the Gunners undoing too often in recent visits to Spurs. 

Arsenal did visibly tire in the latter stages, with the odd sloppy misplaced pass. It was evidence that the funds the club had for Mudryk need to be used astutely before January is out. The fear is that unless certain players are rested, they might run out of steam, and of course fatigue makes them more liable to injury. Remember Robert Pires in 2002. January and February are manageable in terms of the number of fixtures, but March onwards is a concern unless the depth of the squad is addressed. Arteta did not introduce fresh attacking legs until Smith Rowe and Vieira came on in second half injury time.

The result put Arsenal 12 points clear of fifth place Spurs – having played a game less. It would take some collapse to not qualify for the Champions League this season, but it is still far too early to genuinely assess their title chances. This is untrodden territory for a relatively young squad that is weakened a little too much when the first choice eleven are not all available. If you consider events in this fixture only last May – and all the players on duty that evening are still at the club – you can see how a few absences can change things dramatically. Nonetheless, we can certainly enjoy the football being played and the direction the club are going in. Once more, credit is due to Arteta and the decision-makers for keeping faith with a coach this observer had given up on more than once since the summer of 2020. Still, that’s why I am giving personal opinions and not running a football club. Those on the outside cannot see the complete picture and Arteta can plead mitigation based on things outsiders are not privy to. We simply see what happens on the field during the 90 odd minutes of matches. 

This season has given us solid evidence that the trajectory is upwards. For what it’s worth, I am not anticipating the season will bring a first Premier League title for 19 years, and merely hope my lack of belief is proved wrong. The way I look at it is that we are not even at the halfway stage, the team has been relatively fortunate with injuries, and overall, the squad is a little on the young side to keep going all season. That isn’t to cast a shadow on a wonderful campaign so far, it’s simply a reality check. Manchester City have such strength in depth that I fear it will ultimately tell. And who knows about the revived Ronaldo-less Manchester United, who have lost just once in their previous 11 league matches? Their run makes next weekend’s match at the Emirates very significant, although Ten Haag’s side will have to visit Crystal Palace in the coming midweek, time Arsenal can use to rest and recover. 

For now, we can enjoy a first win away to Spurs for nine years. And about time too. As for the fracas at the end, Richarlison is Richarlison, and didn’t help matters when he got involved with Ramsdale in the buildup to a Spurs fan taking a kick at the Arsenal keeper after the end of the match. It was an ugly end to proceedings, but fortunately the contact on the keeper was minimal and it didn’t escalate significantly. All the same, with CCTV being what it is in 2023 (and proof of ID being required for home fans to have their tickets on their smartphones at the new Spurs stadium) it shouldn't be too hard to identify the miscreant and issue the appropriate ban. I don’t really want to think about the implications if the individual responsible had landed a hefty kick on Ramsdale’s back, as then we might not be talking about simple idiocy this morning. Yes, there was doubtless give and take between Ramsdale and the Spurs supporters during the second half, but it you can’t take it a bit of banter, you shouldn’t be dishing it out in the first place. I have little doubt the first insults came from behind the goal rather than the Arsenal keeper.

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