LONDON — Arsenal overcame the absence of key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard to win the North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and transfer into second within the Premier League forward of subsequent week’s conflict with leaders Manchester Metropolis.
Gabriel’s Sixty fourth-minute header was sufficient to seal a 1-0 win in opposition to Ange Postecoglou’s group, who at the moment are languishing in thirteenth place after profitable simply as soon as in 4 video games this season.
The Gunners had gone into the sport with out the suspended Rice and injured Ødegaard on the coronary heart of their midfield, boosting Tottenham’s hopes of a primary residence win in opposition to Arsenal since 2022.
However Jorginho and Thomas Partey stepped into the void and proved Arsenal have the squad to compete for the title as they produced a gritty and resolute efficiency to say victory in opposition to their native rivals.
Whereas Arsenal hammered out their title credentials, the image seems to be much less promising for Spurs, nevertheless.
Postecoglou’s group has now misplaced seven of their previous 11 Premier League video games, profitable simply three — a dismal sequence that can place the previous Celtic supervisor below stress until he is ready to oversee a fast turnaround in outcomes. — Mark Ogden
Arsenal’s set-piece specialism shines once more
The primary individual Mikel Arteta celebrated Gabriel’s’ Sixty fourth-minute aim with was set-piece coach Nicolas Jover — and for good purpose.
Jover has revolutionised Arsenal’s set-piece file since becoming a member of the membership from Manchester Metropolis in 2021; the Gunners scored 22 targets final season from dead-ball conditions, greater than another group. Standing on the nook of the technical space for each set-piece, Jover micromanages Arsenal’s dealing with of offensive and defensive corners and free-kicks to nice impact.
They had been with out common corner-taker Rice and in addition Ødegaard, however Bukayo Saka’s supply was pinpoint for Gabriel to capitalise on poor Spurs marking.
Distinction that detailed strategy with Postecoglou’s cynicism in the direction of appointing a set-piece specialist, explaining again in April that he “at all times suppose[s] it is higher if that is someone who’s part of the teaching employees as a result of then that is an extension of how we play our soccer.”
Nevertheless, maybe the problem by extension there may be if the soccer is not fairly firing — as Tottenham’s is not proper now — then set-pieces aren’t fairly the devolved game-changer they might be, as proved the case right here.
Maybe the Spurs coach’s angle will change when he seems to be on the naked numbers; for the reason that begin of final season, Tottenham have conceded 18 targets from set-pieces (not together with penalties). Solely Nottingham Forest (23) have conceded extra. — James Olley
Spurs fail to reap the benefits of Arsenal’s midfield woe
The absence of Ødegaard, Rice and summer season signing Mikel Merino — which might doubtlessly have been Arsenal’s beginning midfield on one other day — created an apparent alternative for Tottenham to use.
Spurs had been lacking Yves Bissouma however, quite than begin Pape Matar Sarr, Postecoglou opted for an open midfield three with Rodrigo Bentancur anchoring whereas winger Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison operated as two No. 8s.
Tottenham had 64% of the possession and extra pictures (15-7) however solely managed a fractionally increased anticipated targets determine of 0.77 to 0.73.
Though there have been occasions when Partey and Jorginho had been unable to stem the movement of Tottenham assaults — significantly early within the first half — Spurs regularly ran out of concepts and had been unable to maneuver the ball rapidly sufficient to dislodge the Gunners from their disciplined form.
Postecoglou responded to Arsenal’s aim by introducing Sarr and winger Wilson Odobert for Bentancur and the ineffective Brennan Johnson, however by then it felt as if the chance had been missed, as a result of the guests might focus on shutting down area and defending their lead quite than chase a second aim. — Olley
Solanke wants time to turn out to be Tottenham’s aim risk
Dominic Solanke was all work and no reward in opposition to Arsenal. The £55 million summer season signing from Bournemouth missed two of the primary three video games of the season with an ankle damage and continues to be taking part in catch-up by way of health and match sharpness, however Spurs followers might want to settle for a distinct type of centre-forward with Solanke than what they grew accustomed to with Harry Kane.
Kane was a very dependable aim scorer, however he was additionally a participant who would typically drop deep to start out assaults with lengthy balls out vast earlier than racing into the penalty space to assist end the transfer.
Solanke is a extra conventional No. 9, and he was efficient in opposition to Arsenal by way of offering his teammates with a goal man. He additionally gave Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba a bodily take a look at all through the sport, however his lack of tempo implies that Spurs might want to regulate to his attributes and work out how one can get the perfect from the previous Chelsea and Liverpool ahead.
In opposition to Arsenal, he created a few good probabilities and virtually scored with a first-half header, however he wants to spice up his health and his motion if he’s to be the answer to Tottenham’s goal-scoring issues. — Ogden
Timber exhibiting he was well worth the wait
Jurriën Timber was signed for £34m as the ultimate piece of the defensive jigsaw when he arrived at Arsenal from Ajax within the 2023 summer season switch window, however a cruciate ligament damage suffered on his Premier League debut compelled him to overlook the rest of the season.
However the Netherlands worldwide is now again to full health, and he confirmed in opposition to Tottenham simply what Arteta’s facet missed final season because the Gunners narrowly didn’t beat Manchester Metropolis to the title.
Arteta had signed Timber to play on the left of Arsenal’s defence, and his absence was by no means satisfactorily resolved, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko each proving stable if unspectacular replacements.
Timber made an enormous distinction in opposition to Spurs together with his vitality and tenacity down the left flank. He additionally displayed an actual robust streak that can solely serve Arsenal properly within the video games in opposition to title rivals similar to Metropolis and Liverpool.
Timber was booked within the first half following a conflict with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after a agency, however honest, problem on Spurs defender Pedro Porro. The yellow card meant he was strolling a tightrope for the remainder of the sport, but it surely did not have an effect on his efficiency and he continued to provide Arsenal rock-solid reliability at left-back. — Ogden
Arsenal begin a giant week in the very best approach
Three away video games in eight days beginning with visiting their fiercest rivals and ending with a sport on the Premier League champions gives a looking out early take a look at of Arsenal’s credentials. This was a great technique to begin.
Bereft of influential midfielder Rice and captain Ødegaard, Arsenal lined up with Partey and Jorginho in central midfield and Leandro Trossard working as a No. 10. They had been not often at their most fluid, however Arsenal dug in and secured a end result which is able to gasoline their self-belief for the challenges forward.
The Gunners had been lucky with accidents final season. Saliba was one in all solely two outfield gamers to play each minute of their Premier League marketing campaign whereas Ødegaard and Saka had been regulars and Rice was tireless together with Ben White and Gabriel.
Arteta was proper to say “plenty of work” went into that degree of availability however, nonetheless, modern-day calls for on gamers at all times make a repeat unlikely. Subsequently, overcoming the absence of a number of absentees — new signings Riccardo Calafiori and Merino had been additionally among the many lacking — can be a helpful enhance forward of two big video games at Atalanta and Manchester Metropolis
Rice will return from suspension. The prognosis on the remainder is unclear however any prolonged absences mustn’t immediate the worry that will have earlier than Sunday’s end result. — Olley
North London derby breaks a disciplinary file
Referee Jarred Gillett set a file in the course of the first half of this sport by issuing seven yellow playing cards — probably the most ever handed out within the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League sport.
At one stage, it appeared as if each foul or infringement was deemed to be worthy of a warning, however Gillett slowed down within the second half by solely issuing one yellow card after the interval.
However lower than 24 hours after 14 yellow playing cards had been awarded throughout Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth, the sight of so many bookings within the early phases of the North London derby hinted at officers being urged to clamp down on each space of rule-breaking this weekend.
Over the course of the primary and second rounds of matches this season, there have been 38 yellow playing cards issued in every weekend, however that quantity jumped to 57 on the weekend earlier than the worldwide break. But earlier than a ball had even been kicked in Sunday’s two video games there had already been 58 yellow playing cards within the weekend’s eight earlier matches.
VAR controversies have been noticeably few and much between, however yellow playing cards are positively on the rise. — Ogden
Arsenal get proper end result, however within the improper colors
For the primary time in residing reminiscence, Arsenal performed Tottenham in a distinct color than their conventional purple, and it simply did not look proper.
The Premier League introduced within the build-up to the sport that Arsenal wouldn’t be allowed to put on their residence colors — purple with white sleeves — as a result of there was an excessive amount of white within the shirt, and due to this fact would doubtlessly conflict with Tottenham’s predominantly white shirts. As a consequence, Spurs should put on their gentle blue away package once they play on the Emirates in January.
The choice left each golf equipment and their supporters bemused, but it surely meant that Arsenal performed their conventional rivals in an unfamiliar all-black uniform — or black with a giant rip in it if you’re Trossard, who needed to change his jersey late on after the entrance of his unique one had a sq. torn within the entrance.
The North London derby is without doubt one of the Premier League’s largest video games, one which has a world enchantment, so it ought to truly seem like the North London derby.
Think about Everton-Liverpool and Manchester United-Manchester Metropolis being performed with groups in modified colors? It would not occur, so possibly the Premier League ought to go together with custom quite than a minor package conflict subsequent time. — Ogden