Arsenal’s attention to detail, and how little things can decide crucial matches, showed why they inflicted further pain on Tottenham in the North London derby.
When Gabriel smashed a towering header past Guglielmo Vicario in the 64th minute to give Mikel Arteta’s side a crucial 1-0 win — their third consecutive decisive win for Spurs — a scream of joy erupted from the Arsenal analysts behind the press box, highlighting the crucial difference between the two teams.
With the Arsenal squad arriving without captain Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice through injury and suspension, Spurs were given a great chance to make an impression against their arch rivals.
Instead, Ange Postecoglou’s side produced a performance that saw poor decision-making across the pitch and missed or wasted chances to shoot or cross, as a degree of panic erupted after Gabriel’s goal.
Frustration was evident in some of the game programmes that were thrown onto the field, leading to occasional booing at the end. One win from four league games is a mediocre start for a club with lofty ambitions, having lost seven of their last 11 league games this season and last.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, with their defensive wall in front of goalkeeper David Raya in a rare black shirt, were efficient in taking the points.
Spurs and Postecoglou have seen the film before, but it didn’t amuse them.
Three of Arsenal’s last four goals against Spurs have come from set pieces, and only three teams have conceded more from such situations since the start of last season: Nottingham Forest, relegated Luton Town and Sheffield United. Postecoglou’s men have conceded 18 goals, excluding penalties.
Nevertheless, when the topic came up with Postecoglou last season, it was largely ignored as unimportant. The statistics, and more importantly the defeats, tell a different story, and these must open his eyes one day.
Now, back to the contrast between the teams.
In the same period since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals from set pieces than any other team in the Premier League: 24, excluding penalties.
This is a tribute to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2021. The Gunners did their homework against a Spurs side that hadn’t learned from the hard lessons of the past.
Since Jover took over, Arsenal have scored 43 goals from corner kicks, more than any team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Asked if Jover was the best in his field, Arteta replied emphatically: “In his field, in other areas and as a person.” “Because of our relationship, I decided to take him to City when I was at City and then to Arsenal.
“He and his staff instilled in the players the belief that there are many ways to win football games. This guy is really strong. He’s given us a lot so big compliments to all of them.”
Spurs’ vulnerability in such situations is a recurring theme and Arsenal are aware of it. Romero’s protests to referee Jared Gillette that he had been fouled were a sign of desperation: The self-proclaimed strong Argentine simply wasn’t strong enough.
Spurs must have been pleased with an Arsenal line-up without the names of Odegaard and Rice, but the lively start was soon lost in occasional heated brawls, including an ugly first-half confrontation in which players from both teams followed up on Julian Timber’s foul on Pedro Porro.
Spurs’ expected response to Gabriel’s goal never materialised, allowing goalkeeper Raya to take things relatively easy in the second half.
Arsenal relied heavily on Raya’s quality, defensive organisation and fierce determination until he produced the set-piece moment that determined the points distribution.
Arsenal’s celebrations at the final whistle were understandable, given that the victory was achieved without Odegaard and Rice, and that dropping further points after a draw at home to Brighton will increase the pressure ahead of next weekend’s league match against champions and leaders Manchester City. They are now just two points behind.
Spurs began the day with high hopes, but the initial enthusiasm eventually died down and there was an almost inevitable sense that Arsenal would inflict some familiar pain, which they did.
Postecoglou and Spurs needed to start fast after a poor second half of last season that saw them lose out on Champions League qualification to Aston Villa. Their style and league position have improved since the failures of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, but the optimism and promise of the first few months of the season have been disappointing all the same.
Spurs are currently 13th in the table and will feel this loss keenly as it looked like the perfect opportunity to turn things around at home against Arsenal.
James Maddison still looked a player lacking confidence, while £60m summer signing Dominic Solanke slowly found his feet on his home debut: once the striker’s header was narrowly off target, once straight into Raya’s arms, and then a single first-half chance that took too long.
Spurs ran out of ideas before the end and Arsenal were content to soak up what could broadly be called pressure until the final whistle blew with mixed emotions.
It was a happy ending for Arsenal in the North London derby, and their players and manager Arteta celebrated with gusto in their little corner of the opposition’s ground.
