Arsenal secured a hard fought 1-0 away win against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. Missing key personnel in midfield, Mikel Arteta set his team up in an unfamiliar conservative manner, showcasing Arsenal’s resilience and tactical robustness. Here are five key takeaways from the match that we observed…
Jorginho proves his football intelligence
Martin Odegaard’s absence due to injury sustained during international duty with Norway created a significant void in Arsenal’s tactics, but Jorginho seamlessly filled the gap. The experienced Italian midfielder led and conducted Arsenal’s from deep inside the heart of the midfield, demonstrating his exceptional intelligence on the pitch. He read the pace of the game brilliantly, instructing his teammates when to press and when to fall into a compact block. He is definitely past his prime but his understanding of the game has flourished with time, a testament of the important position intelligence holds in modern football.
Jurrien Timber: Rolls-Royce of a defender
Despite not being fully fit after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Jurrien Timber delivered an outstanding performance at left back. He effectively shut down Tottenham’s left flank, rendering Porro and Brennan Johnson ineffective for most part of the match. He was also instrumental in possession as he was a reliable outlet during intense period of Tottenham press. What’s even scary is the fact that he’s yet to reach maximum levels of fitness, Imagine what a fully fit Timber would look like ? Frightening !!!
David Moyes’ pragmatic influence on Mikel Arteta
While Mikel Arteta’s tenure under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City is often cited as a significant influence, this match highlighted the impact of David Moyes’ pragmatic approach on Arteta’s coaching style. Arteta’s playing career under Moyes at Everton seems to have shaped his tactical acumen, particularly in big games. The Arsenal manager’s cautious yet effective strategy bore fruits in this derby victory as Ange’s Spurs couldn’t work around Arsenal’s disciplined and narrow block. Mikel Arteta could arguably be said to be the best defensive coach in Europe currently.
Ange Postecoglou needs a Plan B
Tottenham’s defeat exposed the tactical limitations of Ange Postecoglou’s style The Australian manager’s reliance on a single game plan often leaves his team vulnerable when faced with elite opponents. The levels in the Premier League are high as teams have access to better players, football education, data analytics and coaching staff. The problem with Ange’s Spurs is how predictable their gameplan is and how well prepared Premier League teams setup against Spurs. Moving to the next phase in Spurs project would require more tactical flexibility, and the willingness to be more adaptable to opposition teams.
Spurs had a sub standard transfer window
Considering how many opposition teams decide to defend compact and narrow against Spurs, it’s no surprise seeing Spurs wingers high and wide in acres of space. A key part of how Ange sets his teams to play involves the two fullbacks occupying opposition defences by coming infield and acting as auxillary centre midfielders with plenty rotations. This setup enabled both wingers to hold the width high up the pitch. The problem is Spurs lack elite 1v1 explosive wingers who can hurt defences with explosive dribbling and quality decision-making. Why didn’t Spurs prioritize an elite winger? It’s too early to call but summer signings have done so little to address apparent problems from Spurs’ tactical setup.
Overall it was an intriguing and intense game worthy of a local North London Derby. Arsenal have continued where they left off from last season and will be looking to clinch their first Premier League title in 21 years. For Spurs, it’s not all doom and gloom as a few adjustments could significantly raise the team’s performance.
