North London Is Red: My takeaways from Arsenal beating Spurs
Mikel Arteta's powerful Arsenal side beat Spurs to once again prove North London Is Red
Good Morning!
Happy Monday!
Arsenal beat Spurs 1-0 to once again underline North London Is Red.
How enjoyable was it to witness Mikel Arteta’s imperious Gunners ease past the Lilywhites of N17 on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal haven’t won three on the bounce at the Lane since the late 1980s. I was there for all three of the wins back then. As I have been for the three victories over the last three seasons.
And Sunday was completely and utterly wonderful.
My picture from the Spurs press box of delirious Gooners celebrating Gabriel’s goal
A 64th minute header from the superb Gabriel was enough to seal victory for Mikel Arteta's Gunners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - and my how all the traveling Gooners celebrated as I looked on from the Spurs press box opposite.
I watched the demented celebrations among the 3,000 travelling contingent with huge delight.
Even if, outwardly, I couldn’t show any emotion, firstly because you have to be professional in the press box, and secondly because, with all the Spurs fans around the front row of the press area where I was sat, I would have probably got my head kicked in. And I didn’t fancy that.
North London Is…
Although, I could have enlisted the services of Arsenal’s young mascot, a little bruiser who took on the entire group of Spurs mascots pre-match. If ever there was a good pre-match omen it was that.
Because it underlined that this Arsenal side that Arteta has studiously built is simply not going to be bullied, intimidated, or outfought.
Arteta Knows
It was also instructive to note, during the melee towards the end of the first half, just how big and powerful the Arsenal team looked compared to their counterparts.
That is no accident.
Arteta, humiliated and dejected after Arsenal lost 4-1 to Manchester City during that crushing title shootout back in April 2023, vowed there and then never to let his team be outmuscled by a far bigger, and far more powerful side.
And lo, after two years assiduously assembling such a squad, the proof came in that revealing vignette, when the side not only showed a wonderful esprit de corps in protecting Jurrien Timber - who incidentally was magnificent (more on him tomorrow on here) - but through their towering presence also underlined the fact that Arteta’s side are giants, literally and metaphorically these days. You love to see it.
Jurrien Timber understood the assignment.
…….
Arteta Knows II
I attended the post-match press conferences yesterday, and it was noticeable to see the complete difference in tone and positivity between the two managers.
Arteta looked delighted - and so he should - at such an important victory.
A triumph that underlined just how good his squad really is, despite missing Declan Rice, despite missing Martin Odegaard, despite missing two physically intimidating new signings in Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori.
It was incredibly satisfying to hear him say: “Instead of finding excuses, we faced the challenge and played with courage.”
The Arsenal boss also went on to praise the influence of set-piece specialist coach Nicolas Jover after his side beat Spurs.
Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals (24) from dead-ball situations than any other team in the Premier League.
The Gunners have now netted 42 goals from set pieces since Jover joined the North Londoners in 2021.
Central to those impressive figures has been the welcome impact of set-piece specialist coach Nicolas Jover, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2021.
Sitting on the comfy black seats in the spacious Spurs media theatre, I watched on as Arteta said: “In his field, in other fields, as a person, the relationship that we have, that's why I made a decision to bring him to City when I was there and then to Arsenal.
“Him and the staff, they have injected the belief to the players that there are many ways to win football matches and that this is a really powerful one.
“He's given us a lot, so big compliment to all of them.”
……….
Big Ange
Far from it be for me to revel in an Australian struggling in sport. Heaven forbid…
Disclaimer: Regular readers of my work over the years will know that after living and working in Australia for 18 months a very long time ago, I simply cannot abide their ridiculously embarrassing sporting jingoism, so will absolutely revel any time an Australian loses a sporting contest.
So, when it comes to something so close to my heart, I savour such Australian losses even more.
And Big Ange looked even more downbeat than he normally does.
His faux matey Antipodean schtick simply doesn’t wash after losing a North London Derby.
Which made it all the sweeter when he visibly bristled (or bridled) when it was put to him that his team’s expertise on set pieces wasn’t what it should be.
But it’s true. Spurs conceded 14 goals from set-pieces last season, the sixth worst in the division. While Arsenal scored 20 - and let in only seven.
I had to stifle a smile when I watched on as Postecoglu said: “It’s my burden to carry, mate…”
Or perhaps simply copy your bigger and better rivals down the other end of the Seven Sisters Road and bring in a dedicated set piece specialist.
Actually, don’t bother. Arsenal supporters prefer things the way they are.
PS:
I’m not going to let the start of the hearing against Manchester City overshadow Arsenal’s big day at the Lane yesterday, so we’ll focus on that later this week.
Today is all about The Arsenal.
115 FC can wait. Just like we’ve waited.
…….
DAILY LIST:
I - Locate passport
II - Pack my bag for Italy tomorrow
III - Research Atalanta.
IV - Buy Lonely Planet Italy and research Bergamo
………..
Victoria Concordia Crescit
Arsenal Player Ratings:
The deserved triumph ensures Arsenal start a tough week on the road with a vital win, prior to traveling to Italy to take on Atalanta in the Champions League, before heading to the Etihad a week today to play Manchester City.
Find out who impressed with our Gooner Fanzine Player Ratings
GK: David Raya - 9/10 - A superb clean sheet on his 29th birthday was sealed with an outstanding first half effort that palmed away Kulusevski’s whipped in cross with Brennan Johnson lurking
RB: Ben White - 7.5/10 - Pleasingly antagonistic
CB: William Saliba - 8/10 - Refused to allow a needless early booking to affect his game. Another world class performance as the Gunners classy centre-back purred through such a difficult test with aplomb
CB: Gabriel - 9/10 - The Gunners hero this afternoon in a team of heroes. Superb in both boxes. Subdued Solanke prior to grabbing the winner with a thunderingly emphatic header in a crowded box to make it One Nil To The Arsenal
LB: Jurrien Timber - 8/10 - Outstanding in defence, superb when attacking on the ball, or when supplementing colleagues further forward. An agressive attitude belies a quiet nature off the field. Such tenacity is welcome
RM: Bukayo Saka - 7.5/10 - Assist for Gabriel's winner to cap another lively performance in hostile conditions
CM: Jorginho - 7/10 - Showed all his years of experience in attempting to quell Spurs midifelders and close down space and time
CM: Thomas Partey - 7/10 - Wasn't as influential as he would have liked but another combative performance in the heart of battle
LM: Gabriel Martinelli - 7/10 - Still has a a propensity to lose the ball when well-placed through over-eagerness, but always gives his all for the cause and battles his heart out - more to come from the young Brazil star, who don't forget is still only 23
CF: Kai Havertz - 7/10 - Handed a tough role up front but battled throughout and never let the Spurs backline settle, despite playing plenty of the match with his back to goal
CF: Leandro Trossard - 7.5/10 - An unselfish performance underlining his worth to the team with excellent link-play
Substitutes
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (80' for Trossard) - 7/10
SUB: Raheem Sterling (80' for Martinelli) - 7/10 - Gunners debut
SUB: Ethan Nwaneri (86' for Saka) - 7/10 - Third Premier League substitute appearance in a London derby - third victory
Subs not used: Neto (GK),
Jakub Kiwior,
Maldini Kacurri,
Ayden Heaven,
Ismeal Kabia,
Myles Lewis-Skelly
