Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt was out on the pitch at half time speaking with affection about north London derbies of yore.
The way you by no means might by no means inform what would possibly emerge as soon as the rivalry was held to the flame. How every duel created its personal id.
This one although, there was one thing eerily acquainted about. A frantic avenue skirmish in designer slip-ons settled in Arsenal’s favour with a blow from a set-piece.
After that, they held an outstretched arm with a hand to the Spurs brow and easily saved it there untroubled by the beating about.
That might be robust for Ange Postecoglou and his group to digest. Having completed 23 factors adrift of the neighbours final season they have been hoping to search out proof of progress however there was barely a touch of it, even with the guests shorn of their captain and two key midfielders.
Arsenal beat their fierce rivals Tottenham 1-0 in a fiercely contested north London derby
The north London derby isn’t a match with out incident as tensions usually spill over
As soon as they survived an intense Tottenham opening, Arsenal seemed strong. Stronger, extra cohesive and higher organised than the house group. Altogether extra severe as an outfit.
As soon as forward, they by no means seemed like conceding they usually protected their goalkeeper David Raya fantastically.
Dejan Kulusevski, who pressured early saves, fizzed one over within the closing seconds and that was about it by the use of a late rally.
The most important cheers from the house crowd have been reserved for Cristian Romero tearing round dangerously on the again and Micky van de Ven sliding into restoration tackles.
It’s all a part of the Postecoglou vibe. It’s nice enjoyable and infrequently boring however it may be untidy. And they’ll at all times be weak on the break or from a set-piece in opposition to the perfect groups within the Premier League.
Normally, they summon possibilities however right here possibilities have been scarce. There was no late swell of strain kicking in the direction of the South Stand.
The factors have been misplaced to a purpose from a nook to set off cold-sweat flashbacks to final season when this turned a recurring theme.
Not as a result of there isn’t any designated set-piece coach on the workers or as a result of they don’t work onerous on the coaching pitch. Relatively as a result of they’re in need of aerial presence.
On the proof of this and 4 factors from the earlier three video games little has modified this season.
Dominic Solanke is new to the group and first rate within the air however past Romero and Van de Ven there are few to compete defensively with Arsenal’s towering quartet of centre halves with Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz thrown in for good measure.
Arsenal defender Gabriel scored the one purpose of the sport, with a match-winning header (64′)
Gunners’ head coach Mikel Arteta has overseen three consecutive away victories at Spurs
Spurs supervisor Ange Postecoglou might be pissed off with Tottenham’s defensive frailties
Romero was in obscure attendance on this event till Gabriel gave him a shove within the again to knock him off steadiness and eased away, leaping to satisfy Bukayo Saka’s swerving supply with a agency header.
Tottenham requested hopefully a couple of foul however there was no assist coming from referee Jarren Gillett. It can go down as poor defending by their greatest defender. Romero failed to interact with one in every of Arsenal’s hazard males and he knew it.
To complain a couple of push or declare Jurrien Timber ought to have been despatched off as a result of he went excessive on Pedro Porro within the first half when he was attempting to roll the ball away can be to overlook the purpose. Spurs have been second greatest.
Postecoglou despatched on subs however the sample of the competition barely modified. If something, Arsenal certain tighter. They risked much less, limiting themselves to the occasional menacing counterattack.
It was a muscular efficiency. A basic of the ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ style to heat the cockles of the pre-Wenger previous guard on the pink and white facet of this divide. One achieved with out Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard or new signing Mikel Merino and with 5 youngsters on the bench.
Arsenal got here with a plan and caught to it. They settled right into a 4-4-2 form. Havertz and Leandro Trossard have been the entrance two however usually there was no person up entrance as they labored busily again into midfield.
Typically the vast males Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been the furthest ahead. Typically all 4 of them have been up, urgent and hustling. In the event that they have been unable to pressure errors from Spurs as they handed out from Guglielmo Vicario they dropped deep and absorbed strain.
The fullbacks neutralised the wingers and Jorginho and Partey smothered the areas the place Kulusevski and James Maddison needed to function.
Kulusevski pressured early saves and Solanke, at £65million from Bournemouth the costliest Premier League signing of the summer time and again from harm, made a optimistic begin.
He led the road and disturbed each central defenders and went shut with a header in every half, however failed to supply an effort at purpose from maybe his greatest likelihood which broke to him within the field within the first half.
Spurs legend Gary Mabbutt spoke at half-time about his favorite north London derbies
Arsenal have now gained three of their 4 video games of the 2024-25 Premier League season
There have been groans on the finish with a couple of boos thrown in. True, they simply don’t wish to crushed at dwelling by Arsenal however there may be one thing else starting to eat away. An underwhelming begin to this marketing campaign follows on from an underwhelming finish to the final.
Spurs have gained 5 of the final 15 within the Premier League, 4 of them final season in opposition to the underside 4 and one this season at dwelling to all-time low Everton. Wednesday’s journey to Coventry looms giant.
The Carabao Cup defeat on penalties with a weakened group at Fulham final season was the low level of an excellent begin to the Postecoglou period.
One other feeble cup exit earlier than one other London derby in opposition to Brentford on Saturday and the darkish temper might deepen.
