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Arsenal 2 Tottenham 0: Vintage Gunners dig deep to show ambitious Spurs they still have work to do

Exceptional: Mesut Ozil was creative AND industrious - AFP
Exceptional: Mesut Ozil was creative AND industrious - AFP

Arsene Wenger has had the best part of two weeks to brood upon that previous defeat to Manchester City and so when it came to the point that the legitimacy of his team’s two goals in this North London derby were called into question the Arsenal manager already had his answer.

This had been a vintage Arsenal performance, conjured from who knows where, one of intensity supported by good organisation – ruthless when they had to be, stubborn at other times.

The only caveat being that both goals, scored in the first half by Skhodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez, were marginally offside and when that was pointed out to Wenger, a whole international break spent fast-forwarding and rewinding that Etihad defeat was brought to bear.

His team, he said, had been the victims of David Silva’s offside goal on that occasion and if no-one else remembered it then Wenger was going to make damn sure that they were reminded. He ended his press conference thin-lipped and quietly furious but that is the way it can go at Arsenal, even on these days when they look every bit as impressive as they should do, given the undoubted quality of their players.

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Premier League match at Arsenal - Credit: Getty
Fit? Harry Kane was short of his best Credit: Getty

The balance of power in North London stays very much where it has done for all but a small part of the last 21 years of Wenger’s reign, with Spurs resisted and conquered just 17 days after they beat Real Madrid, the champions of Europe, at Wembley. Harry Kane and Dele Alli were substituted before the end; Christian Eriksen got no closer to scoring another hat-trick than striking a post with a shot that Petr Cech had covered and the unstoppable rise of Mauricio Pochettino was slowed.  

The young Spurs manager took a couple of steps onto the pitch after the final whistle and then seemed to think better of it, turning back down the tunnel while his players went to thank an away support that had all but emptied before the end. He too was fuming afterwards with Mike Dean’s decisions for both goals, including the free-kick for Mustafi’s header.

Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi (centre) scores his side's first goal  - Credit: PA
Head man: Shkodran Mustafi bullets home the opener Credit: PA

The inquest into the nerve of this Spurs’ team begin again with, among others, their former striker Gary Lineker pointing out that in 86 away games away to Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, Spurs have won just four. Not since 2010 have Spurs won in the league at the Emirates and instead of being the day they changed that, it was Arsenal who extended their winning home run to 11 games, a record for the Emirates.

This was Wenger’s first win over Pochettino in a North London derby and he was not prepared to countenance that he had the benefit of referee’s decisions. “Suddenly when we concede goals it is absolutely normal,” Wenger said, “even when they are a yard offside and when we maybe [offside] I have to answer that in a press conference.

“I believe we do not listen too much, as much as you think to the national debate. That is among you. We live inside our own club and focus on what is important for us. People have a perception of us and the game and we have to live with that. We can only give one answer and that is on the pitch.”

It was a great derby game, with no margin for error on either side and although Arsenal might have surprised their own fans with their quality, the old tensions were not far from the surface. The home support reacted furiously to Wenger’s decision to replace Alexandre Lacazette with Francis Coquelin 17 minutes from the end.

For his part Pochettino was angry that he had to field questions about the absence of Danny Rose, not even selected on the bench and instead training alone at the club’s Enfield base while Spurs’ Under-23s took on their Chelsea counterparts. The full-back came on for England against Brazil on Tuesday and Pochettino said that his eight-month injury absence meant that he was better served working on his fitness.

In Rose’s place, Ben Davies had a difficult game at left-wing back, an area which Arsenal attacked relentlessly in the first half and from where their second goal came. The goalscorer Sanchez was a key figure in the game and so too the other contract refusenik Mesut Ozil. Mustafi was exceptional.

Arsenal goal - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Was Arsenal's first goal offside? Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

In the first half in particular, Arsenal pushed up into space and pressed as a single unit. They were on top by the midway point of the half and Spurs looked stretched. The crosses from their left side required some drastic interventions from the Spurs defence and Hugo Lloris had to be quick off his line to tackle Sanchez outside the box.

The first goal originated with a questionable free-kick awarded by referee Dean for a foul by the impressive Davinson Sanchez on his Arsenal namesake. It looked like a clean tackle although in the aftermath, Dean seemed to point out that the Spurs defender had grabbed his opponent’s shirt at the shoulder.

“It is so difficult to explain when you lose in this way,” Pochettino said. “Some small details maybe are big details in football and change everything. Until that moment, maybe [Granit] Xhaka should be sent off [he was booked for just his second infringement]. The foul [by Davinson Sanchez] was not a foul the goal, the goal was offside but in the end we lost. We need to go home and then keep going.”

Arsenal second goal - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
And how about the second goal? Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

Ozil’s free-kick was headed back past Lloris by Mustafi, marginally offside, with the Spurs goalkeeper flat-footed. By this time Arsenal were well on top. They got their second before half-time when Hector Bellerin released Lacazette down the right and he crossed to the near post where Sanchez’s strength and determination saw him finish. Again, Lacazette looked marginally offside.   

In the second half Pochettino brought on Harry Winks for the struggling Mousa Dembele and later Heung-min Son and Fernando Llorente but his side continued to play in front of Arsenal rather than get behind them. There was a fine save by Cech from Eric Dier’s header although precious few chances were created by Spurs. If anything Arsenal, and Sanchez in particular, looked the more likely to get another on the breakaway.

 

2:26PM

Congratulations to Arsenal

Hard lines for Spurs. A couple of decisions went against them but I think the result is fair and correct. That excellent chap Mr Sam Wallace will be here presently with the match report. From me, goodbye.

Poch: "first goal was offside, second goal maybe offside. That is football sometimes, there is mistakes. I think Xhaka should have second yellow card. Frustrated. Disappointed. Small details, change a lot at this level. Kane and Alli were okay to play. Situation [with Rose] is not an issue."

2:23PM

Full time: Arsenal 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

That's it. Arsenal will really, really enjoy this. They were better in every way, and they worked damn hard for their win. Well played. Arsenal up into fifth place.

2:22PM

90+ mins

Son has an effort that dips not too far over the bar, but the jig is up for Spurs.

2:21PM

90 mins

Into injury time now,  long ball to Alexis and he controls it magnificently. But here is Tottenham's own Sanchez, busting a gut to get back, and he manages to get his body across Alexis. Some players would have gone down under that pressure and looked for the penalty. But he stays on his feet.

Lloris  stops the shot.

2:18PM

Man of the Match

"He's not always had my vote but he does today," says Gary Neville.

Mesut Ozil sits on the bench v Spurs - Credit: SKy Sports Premier League
Man of the Match Credit: SKy Sports Premier League

2:16PM

87 mins

Iwobi has the ball in the area and hits a shot on target. Charged down.

Arsenal dominating. They're pinning Spurs way back, the visitors cannot get out of their own area. Sanchez a constant danger.

2:14PM

85 mins

Pitiful effort from Son, who holds his head in his hands after shooting wildly.

2:13PM

84 mins

Ozil is subbed off to a well deserved ovation. He has worked hard and been superb. A complete performance. Alex Iwobi comes on.

2:12PM

83 mins

Spurs have overcommitted, not unreasonably, and after Winks's shot is  charged down, the Arsenal can break. They are four on three, Ozil carrying the ball, he selects Bellerin out of the options. The shot from Hector B is blocked.

2:09PM

80 mins

Tottenham with a last big push. A corner. Not fully cleared. A deep ball in, Dier rises splendidly and heads it back across the goal, Cech palms it away at full strength.

2:04PM

75 mins

Ozil dancing down the left now, another lovely cross. Sanchez's first touch is poor, but he gets it under control and hammers a shot at the near post. Lloris does better here than he did for the goal, off the line, narrowing the space, and blocking.

2:03PM

74 mins

Kane and Alli, neither of them at his best, are taken off for Son and Llorente.

2:01PM

72 mins

Wenger withdraws Lacazette and brings on Coquelin to shore things up. Some Arsenal fans boo the decision. The absolute spanners.

2:00PM

71 mins

Monreal fouls Alli and goes into the book.

1:58PM

70 mins

Ozil with another darting run, slips it to Sanchez, who fluffs his shot. 

1:58PM

69 mins

Arsenal work some space, they are playing very well indeed, and Alexis has time and space to line up a shot from the edge of the box. A poor effort by his own high standards.

1:57PM

68 mins

Ozil finally takes corner. Harry Kane heads it clear.

1:56PM

67 mins

Ozil still trotting over.

1:56PM

66 mins

Arsenal dominating, no major goal chances in the last few minutes. Trippier kicks Alexis.

Freekick from same position as the first goal. Leads to a corner. Ozil trots over.

1:55PM

Your Mike Dean news

 Oh no wait

Eriksen with a tame shot.

 

1:51PM

62 mins

Ozil superb, working his little socks off. Good stuff down the right. Arsenal have a corner, Lloris flappy and unconvincing.

1:51PM

I love this artist's work

1:50PM

61 mins

Dembele has had a quiet game, Harry Winks replaces him.

1:47PM

58 mins

Spurs fans are going to complain plenty about this match.

1:44PM

55 mins

Spurs though are having plenty to say. Alli gets the ball and shoots, it is charged down. Now it breaks to Harry Kane who lets rip. Mustafi, I think it was, throws himself in the way of the shot.

Kane down in the penalty area, vociferous appeals for a penalty but Dean is having none of it. 

1:44PM

54 mins

Sissokho, a Spurs bright spot, comes down the right and tries to get the ball in. It breaks though to Arsenal who go up the other end. LOVELY through ball from Alexis but just a bit too much on it. Lloris is out to clear. Ozil playing well.

1:41PM

52 mins

Ball slid through, Lacazette busting a gut to get there but it just evades him. He reckons he was impeded unfairly in the penalty area.

Bellerin with a handy floater into the box, Arsenal's big men are up and perhaps ought to have made more of the moment.

Good game this, end to end stuff and both sides attacking with gusto.

1:37PM

49 mins

Decent little spell here from Spurs, they are pressing and threatening. Harry Kane slides in on Xhaka from behind, and is booked.

1:36PM

47 mins

I fancy Xhaka for the second yellow, he's got zero match intelligence that boy. Dean has a card out now, but it is for Mustafi, who (it looked to me) won the ball off Kane, but in a manner that offended the delicate sensibilities of the Heswall whistler.

1:34PM

46 mins

It is Arsenal who are on the front foot at the start of the half. Spurs pinned back.

1:33PM

The players are coming out for the second half

Poch is having a word with this chap, presumably not about EA Sports games. 

Poch bends an ear - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

1:19PM

Half time: Arsenal 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Arsenal richly deserve that lead and have been clearly superior. Spurs will moan about the award of the freekick that led to goal one, and will argue that both goals were very, very close to being offside. But ultimately, Arsenal's big players (Sanchez, Ozil) have turned up, and Tottenham's (Eriksen, Alli, a not fully fit Kane) have been short of their best.

1:17PM

44 mins

Not really happening for Spurs. Harry with an effort.

Spurs pushing hard as the half comes to a close. You cannot fault the application or heart. 

1:12PM

GOAL! Alexis Sanchez!

It is two. Super stuff from Arsenal, Lacazette strong and direct down the inside-right, he crosses the ball and there is Sanchez to control and hammer it home at the near post.

I wonder if the goalkeeper, Lloris, will feel he ought to have done more? He just sort of stood there and flopped over.  "He's not the bravest," says Gurreh Neville.

This was damn close to being offside as well, but I think a reasonable decision. I mean, the game's about goals, after all and I always like to see the benefit of the doubt going to the batsman attacker. 

Arsenal second goal - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

1:10PM

36 mins

More Sanchez on Sanchez action, this time Alexis with a wild and rather spiteful tackle on the Spurs man. He's into the book and rightly so. 

Spurs will moan about the awarding of the freekick that led to the goal and you can see why. It was also very close to offside. But the fact remains that their marking was slipshod.

1:08PM

GOAL! Shkodran Mustafi! 

A decent delivery into the box, and  Shkodran Mustafi has got in between Vertonghen and Dier, he rises unimpeded and plants the header into the corner. Arsenal lead, and deservedly so.

Was it offside?

Arsenal goal - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

1:06PM

34 mins

Long ball forward, Alexis Sanchez brings the ball under control brilliantly. His namesake Sanchez disposseses him with a very good tackle, but referee Mike Dean rules that a foul by the young Tottenham defender. Arsenal have a freekick.

1:04PM

33 mins

And Spurs have another good chance, a decent ball into the area and Harry Kane meets the ball with a firm header. Regulation gather for Cech.

1:03PM

32 mins

Against the run of play, Eriksen has hit the post! Picks it up on the left, inside, shifts the ball and strikes it low and true. Cech was beaten there.

1:03PM

31 mins

Xhaka becomes the first booking of the afternoon for a late tackle/shoulder barge combo move on Alli. Richly deserved.

1:00PM

28 mins

Ozil with a nice run and a threatening cross. It's all hands to the pump at the moment for Spurs, they hack it behind. A corner. And now another corner. Tottenham are under pressure here, Ozil and Alexis are at it. Ramsey supplying them. If Lacazette had a bit more about him, they'd be a serious outfit.

Coral: yellow card during Arsenal v Spurs @ 25/1

12:57PM

26 mins

Something of a garryowen into the Arsenal box, Alli fouls Cech.

12:55PM

24 mins

An Arsenal corner comes to little. 

Harry Kane has strapping on his knee and looks a bit short of full fitness. Alli has been sloppy, giving the ball away.

12:54PM

23 mins

I didn't know they played rugger in Switzerland, but an excellent rugby tackle from Xhaka here suggests otherwise.

12:52PM

21 mins

Arsenal are well on top. Xhaka has a freekick into the box, headed behind for a corner. Spurs are struggling to clear their lines here.  Sanchez has a chance to play it in! But his teammates are not on the same page.

12:51PM

18 mins

Lovely stuff from Arsenal, through ball from Ramsey to Bellerin, excellent low cross and Lacazette only needed to toe it in. he was outmuscled by two Spurs players. Would a stronger/braver centre forward have scored there?

12:47PM

15 mins

A muted atmosphere - as per - at The Emirates.

12:46PM

14 mins

Good stuff from Sissoko down the right, holding the ball well, centres to Alli, whose shot is tame.

Arsenal vs Tottenham, Premier League: live score updates - Credit: Getty Images Europe
Credit: Getty Images Europe

12:43PM

11 mins

Arsenal's front three are impressing. A rather un-Arsenally move now: long ball, Alexis Sanchez in the Niall Quinn role, heads it down for Lacazette, who cannot do much with the shot. Is that Lacazette boy good enough?

12:39PM

7 mins

Arsenal immediately up the other end, Ozil gets on the ball and Spurs are in big trouble here until the referee rules that Ozil had pushed Vertonghen in claiming that ball. Highly dubious decision, particularly on the replay.

12:37PM

6 mins

And now Kane has a chance! A long ball forward, Arsenal make a pig's ear of the header clearance, Koscielny guilty. Kane into the area, hits a shot but straight at the keeper.

12:36PM

5 mins

Arsenal front three are pressing the Tottenham backs.

Dier gives the ball away, very poor.  The ball breaks to Lacazette and he shoots wildly over. Ought to have done better.

12:35PM

4 mins

Alli has a chance to play Eriksen in but fluffs his lines.

12:34PM

3 mins

A stop-start, er, start as Mike Dean gets plenty of use out of his whistle. No inflammatory tackles yet though.

12:33PM

2 mins

Martin T remarks that "some at the ground" have been referring to Ozil-Sanchez-Lacazette as "the golden triangle". Gary Neville correctly points out: "not sure they have won enough to get the golden tag."

12:31PM

1 mins

Spurs play the ball around at the back. Davies with a run, ended by a hard sliding tackle from compatriot Ramsey.

12:31PM

It's not a nice afternoon in North London

Spurs will kick off. Talking of kicking off, will we see a spicy affair? I for one hope so.  If you reckon there'll be yellow cards, look at this Best bet: A yellow card to be shown during Arsenal vs Tottenham at 25/1 

12:29PM

And Tottenham thus

Spurs  - Credit: Sky Sports
Credit: Sky Sports

12:28PM

Here's how Sky reckon Arsenal will line up

Arsenal team - Credit: Sky Sports
Credit: Sky Sports

12:27PM

Goonersaurus there

Goonersaurus - Credit: Sky Sports
Credit: Sky Sports

12:21PM

Broadway Danny Rose

is not injured, and has not travelled with the squad to Arsenal. He has been sent to train with other players not involved in this match. Clearly a saga going on there and one that will presumably end with the player moving clubs in the New Year. Shame for Spurs, he's a good player, but for the outsider point of view at least, appears to be a bit of a prat.

12:20PM

Spurs' away record v the top six 

is poor. Just one win in 16

12:19PM

Poch on international week

Nearly all of our players were away so we only had only a couple of days to prepare for this, but of course it is the same for Arsenal.

Not easy to win away from home at top teams. But we will try.

12:17PM

For Spurs, five changes from the side that beat Palace

Lloris, Trippier, Dembele, Davies and Alli come in to, and I think it is fair to say strengthen, the Tottenham side.

12:16PM

Koscielny is to make his 300th PL appearance

today. Congrats to him. Seems like a solid citizen.

12:15PM

Two changes for the Arsenal

Mustafi and Lacazette come into the XI.

12:02PM

Ozil doing an indie kid thing with his sleeves to keep his fingies warm

Mesut ozil warms up - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

That boy really is a wet lettuce.

12:00PM

Souey

"You look at Arsenal in the tunnel and you are not going to be frightened by them, 1 to 11. They have not had a physically intimidating player for ten years."

He concedes that it is possible that the burly Kolasinac could fill that role.

11:58AM

Here are the teams

Arsenal: Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey,  Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette. Subs: Mertesacker,  Wilshere, Ospina, Iwobi, Welbeck, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin. 

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Vertonghen, Trippier,  Sissoko, Dembele, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane. Subs: Son, Vorm,  Llorente, Foyth, Aurier, Winks, Walker-Peters. 

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) 

11:57AM

I am a big fan of Souey's coat here

Souness pitchside - Credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Credit: Sky Sports Premier League

11:50AM

Who do you fancy, then?

I think Spurs can win this, if Harry K is fit/at his best. I hope we see a) lots of goals and b) a big on-pitch brawl.

11:46AM

Arsenal Team

11:45AM

Tottenham Team

11:44AM

Good morning!

Tyers here, North London Derby Day here, and the teams are also here.

11:44AM

Our preview

Best bet: A yellow card to be shown during Arsenal vs Tottenham at 25/1

Match preview

Arsene Wenger has no intention of following in the footsteps of Tottenham counterpart Mauricio Pochettino by writing a book during his managerial career.

The Arsenal boss also said he has enough experience as a manager that means he does not need to take any advice from Pochettino's volume.

Pochettino has been answering questions about certain revelations from his book since its release.

But he will not find a copy in any corner of the Emirates Stadium when he takes his Spurs side on the short journey for Saturday's north London derby.

When asked if he had read Pochettino's book, Wenger said: "No, because I have no time, not because it is not interesting. Because I have a good experience of managing.

"Look, I have nothing against it. I am open-minded to it. But I have not much time in my schedule."

Wenger, 68, has had books written about him but has never put anything down in his own words.

He insists that is because the truth cannot be revealed while he is still serving as a manager and that he would much rather publish his memoirs when he has retired.

Asked if he would consider writing a book during his career, Wenger said: "Not at the moment.

"Because I don't like to talk and not tell the truth. As long as you are in work, you cannot really tell what is going on. Just to sell a book?

"I have no interest. If it is to tell really what I think about the game and what I think about some aspects of our game, I will do it but at the moment it is impossible."