Deep, deep joy as Arsenal prove North London Is Red: Again
The chase is on after 'sensational' Arsenal beat bitter rivals to win the North London derby and underline Premier League title credentials: Also - In Praise of MLS, and Mind The Gap...
Hello!
Happy, happy Thursday!
If ever a morning after the night before should be happy, it’s after The Arsenal beat Spurs to win the North London derby, while emphatically proving - once again - that North London Is Red.
What a game.
I’m still absolutely buzzing. I’ve been bouncing off the walls all morning.
I’ve been home and away, year in, year out in this fixture since the early 1980s and let me tell you, I’ve never, ever, lost the buzz of beating *that lot*.
Whether it be in the Schoolboys’ Enclosure, the Junior Gunners section, the North Bank, my beloved Clock End, the Emirates, the away end at the old White Hart Lane - and the shenanigans before and after on *that* corner - not to mention their old press box, and new one, and of course, the Emirates press box, the feeling of deep, deep joy never, ever, leaves you when The Arsenal beat Spurs to win the North London derby.
My word what a result. What a performance. Absolutely superb.
What character the team showed. After two desperately disappointing cup Mikel Arteta’s side showed the world exactly what they are made of.
To stage such a remarkable comeback, after Spurs went ahead completely against the run of play, showed that this side is special.
To see Bukayo Saka on crutches before the game, alongside injured teammate Ethan Nwaneri, just as we start to head into the business end of the season - not to mention the stricken Jesus - to go along with previously missing talisman captain Martin Odegaard for a large chunk of the season, showed that this side is special.
Of course, given the number of chances Arsenal create, Arteta needs to sign a striker - but that’s a discussion for another day - today we simply celebrate beating Spurs to win the North London derby.
MLS: He’s One of Our Own
I attended the managerial post-match press conferences in the Emirates media theatre last night, and it was so instructive that a visibly delighted Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Myles Lewis Skelly.
Hands up who thought the talented teen - another graduate from the club’s acclaimed Hale End conveyor-belt - had an outstanding match.
In the white heat of the North London derby the precious teenager shone. His display underlined an excellent talent, a superb technique, and a wonderfully calm temperament - even if Arteta did well to take the youngster off with moments to go, while he put his finger to his mouth to “shush” the noise coming from about-to-be-defeated Spurs players and fans. It was wonderful to see such personality from such a strong character.
Handed a difficult task in taming Dean Kulesevski and Brennan Johnson, MLS displayed such maturity in mastering his opponents, playing a pivotal role in helping Arsenal to a vital victory.
When asked if he was proud of being part of Lewis-Skelly’s development, Arteta modestly replied last night: “I think it makes everybody at the club very proud because he's been in our system for a long time and we know the kind of education that the academy is giving to our boys to get prepared.
“We have to pick them at the moment that we believe they are ready, and with him, it was very, very early and in a different position because he's never played as a full-back before, but he responds in the manner that he's on, which is a enjoy to watch.”
How good is MLS?
People sometimes say to me: Why on earth do you cover academy games on freezing cold nights at Boreham Wood, with practically no-one there?
Well, my answer today would be three words: Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Quite simply the 18-year-old was absolutely outstanding.
Why? Well, having watched the lad since his was in the Arsenal academy, I would have to say one of his main attributes is a calm temperament.
Composure in other words.
His nimble, fleet-footed ability to play the ball in tight spaces, is testament to his calmness under pressure, as well as a Santi-Cazorla-esq talent in having an excellent technique to be able to use the ball so well, while very rarely ceding possession. Despite, at times, being under great pressure in tight spaces, that help aid escape from opponents chasing him down.
Speaking afterwards a scarcely believing Arteta lavishly praised the youngster saying warmly and with no little pride: “I think it’s very rare to see 18-year-olds playing against Kulusevski and Johnson in a big London derby for the first time to perform with that composure, attitude and that control emotionally. It's very rare to see.”
MLS also has an excellent technique. I recall watching him as a 16-year-old - in the last minute of extra time against a gilded Manchester City academy side that had tens of millions of pounds of talent pumped into them - calmly fired home a 120th minute free-kick winner in the FA Youth Cup semi-final, to send the young guns through to the 2023 final.
But his talent stretches further than scoring for the academy.
As a rule, I’m not overly fond of quoting too many stats, as I’m firmly of the belief that football is a simple game, complicated by idiots.
However, sometimes numbers are telling.
Such as the astounding fact that MLS has the best passing accuracy rate among defenders in the Premier League this season.
MLS boasts a passing accuracy rate of 96.1 per cent. Ahead of Curtis Jones. Ahead of Manuel Akanji. Ahead of Ruben Dias. And, ahead of William Saliba.
Not only that, but MLS also leads ‘duels won’ in the top flight this term, incredibly leading Ibrahima Donate, Ezri Konsa, Virgil van Dijk and John Stones.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Thomas Tuchel selects him for England’s World Cup qualifying games in March, such has been the strength of his performances this season.
What. A. Talent.
And he’s one of our own.
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Noise around the title race
As a journalist that covers the Premier League week in week out, I have been fortunate to have had a ringside seat to run the rule over the top three this week.
As you can read by my match report from the City Ground earlier this week, Forest are most definitely in the mix for the title, such was the way they play, and the instructive way they rattled Liverpool - and the way their fans unnerved the normally placid Arnie Slot.
Speaking of atmospheres, I have to say that the noise generated by Forest fans at the City Ground was superb.
However, I also have to say, that despite such lazy assertions from so many people who should know better, the atmosphere at the Emirates last night, was right up there with the best noise generated anywhere in English football this season.
But that wouldn’t fit certain narratives, would it…
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My Morning Star newspaper Arsenal vs Spurs match report from the Emirates press box
Sensational Arsenal prove North London Is Red: Match report by Layth Yousif
My Morning Star newspaper Arsenal vs Spurs match report from the Emirates press box
Sensational Arsenal prove North London Is Red: Match report by Layth Yousif
The chase is on after Mikel Arteta hailed "sensational" Arsenal as the Gunners beat Spurs to win the North London Derby on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal showed huge reserves of character in staging a thrilling comeback victory, to ensure Arteta's side beat their bitter rivals for the second time this season, while underlining their Premier League title credentials.
On a memorable midwinter's evening in foggy Islington, the Gunners shrugged off a couple of disappointing cup performances, to move within four points of table toppers Liverpool.
With Arnie Slot's side only drawing against Nottingham Forest earlier this week, and the Reds’ extra game in hand being the Merseyside derby next month, no wonder Arteta responded with an emphatic "yes" when asked if his team were to be considered serious title contenders.
Arsenal showed resolve when responding after going a goal down completely against the run of play, when Son Heung-min's shot was deflected off William Saliba past keeper David Raya after 25 minutes. The goal coming after Raya had blocked Dejan Kulesevski’s effort at the near post.
Yet, the Gunners aren't set piece kings for nothing, with their powerful response coming swiftly and decisively.
Gabriel rising to meet Declan Rice's corner at the far post five minutes before the interval made it 1-1.
The equaliser coming after Spurs’ new 21-year-old keeper Antonin Kinsky completely failed to claim the inswinging ball, the £12.5m new arrival languishing alone in a crowded box as the ball flew over his head, even if the final touch into the next appeared to come off Dominic Solanke.
Spurs could also lay claim that it shouldn’t have been a corner in the first place, with the last touch coming off Leandro Trossard, such are the vicissitudes of a North London derby.
Tails up, with a raucous stadium behind them, the rampant Gunners went 2-1 ahead four minutes later, when Trossard's superb left-footed low angled shot beat the now rattled Kinsky, who should have done much better to prevent the drive from just inside the box.
The home side’s dominance was showcased earlier in the move, when Thomas Partey won the ball from a ponderous Yves Bissouma in the heart of midfield, prior to an elegant flick with the outside of his left foot from captain Martin Odegaard that fed the clinical Trossard who fired home with aplomb as the stadium further erupted with deep joy.
Arsenal dominated the second half but failed to score a third, leaving Arteta to reflect that his side should have closed the game out far earlier, which saw Pedro Porro thud Raya’s near post in the closing seconds.
Speaking after the match, a visibly delighted Arteta said: “I’m very proud of the team.
“I thought we were sensational,” before adding: “I think we made our people very happy.”
However, there was no such consolation for the increasingly-under fire Ange Postecoglu, as their struggles continue, after the crushing derby defeat made it six losses in Spurs last eight matches, leaving Arsenal’s vanquished rivals a mere five places off the relegation zone.
Speaking with his usual baffling posture of head and eyes down, thereby failing to address the questioner, a downbeat Postecoglu admitted after the match: "We weren't anywhere near the levels we should be today, especially in the first half, we were way too passive and allowed Arsenal to get into a rhythm.
"It was unacceptable in the first half that we could go out there in such a big game and be so passive. We haven't done that for quite a while in a game of football and we paid a price for it.”
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“You can change the manager, but the situation cannot change…” Antonio Conte
Mind the gap
“You can change the manager, but the situation cannot change…” Antonio Conte
Mind the gap
Every single year, with every single Spurs manager, I see people get carried away with what essentially is nothing more than PR.
Have you noted how many people can’t wait to claim that the new boss in N17 is the new messiah.
That the team they have ‘created’ is soon to rule English football, sweeping aside Arsenal and everyone else in their wake.
And every single time - every single time bar absolutely none - these people are proved laughably incorrect.
After Keith Burkinshaw quit in 1984, famously lamenting “there used to be a club over there…” Spurs have employed xxx bosses.
Let’s list them:
1984 - Peter Shreeves
1986 - David Pleat
1987 - Trevor Hartley (caretaker)
1987 - Doug Livermore (caretaker)
1987 - Terry Venables
1991 - Peter Shreeves
1992 - Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence
1993 - Osvaldo Ardiles
1994 - Steve Perryman
1994 Gerry Francis
1997 - Chris Hughton
1998 - Christian Gross (my all time favourite utterly hapless Spurs boss)
1998 - David Pleat
1999 - George Graham (say it ain’t so George)
2001 - David Pleat (caretaker)
2001 - Glenn Hoddle - oversaw Sol Campbell’s last-ever game when Arsenal beat Spurs 2-1 at Old Trafford to win the FA Cup semi-final
2003 - David Pleat
2004 - Jacques Santini - presided over Arsenal winning the league at WHL
2004 - Martin Jol - sacked at half time with fans knowing before the Dutchman
2007 - Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe (remember that pair…?!)
2008 - Juane Ramos
2009 - Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe. (again)
2009 - Harry Redknapp - named an offshore account Rosie after his dog yet claimed he knew nothing about it. Nor how to work a mobile phone. Allegedly…
2012 - Andre Villas Boas
2013 - Tim “Gooner” Sherwood
2014 - Mauricio Pochettino (zero trophies)
2019 - Jose Mourinho (sacked 48 before League Cup final)
2019 - Ryan Mason (caretaker)
2021 - Nuno Espirito Santo - (now boss of title challengers Forest)
2021 - Antonio Conte (who famously said: You can change the manager, but the situation cannot change before being sacked)
2023- Christian Stellini (caretaker)
2023 - Ryan Mason (caretaker again)
2023 Ange Postecoglu (“maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate”)
……
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Tottenham Hotspur: A litany of forty years’ managerial underachievement and self-delusion
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North London Is Red
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