Arsenal vs Spurs: Instant Reaction

First thoughts at full time

Headline: Missed Chances Bite Arsenal

This match was there for Arsenal to blow things away in the opening 35 minutes. Arsenal had a couple of big chances and a few half chances. On another day it is 3-0 and Arsenal are cruising for a big win.

It just wasn’t meant to be with things not quite working.

At 16 minutes Arsenal’s press creates a massive opportunity.

Eddie does well to run onto it and tries to delay his move as long as he can waiting for support but Fabio Vieira is too slow in support and he has to try from a tough angle.

Here is the full sequence from Arsenalist.

After Arsenal scored their goal, they have a couple other chances. Vieira nearly finds Gabriel Jesus at the far post. Jesus has another big chance from good pressing. He takes the ball off James Maddison but maybe rushes things and his shot goes over the bar.

Via Arsenalist again.

After this things are too even with Spurs dominating the final few minutes of the first half and then Arsenal just never really looked like they had much threat in them, once the second equalizer hit the back of the net.

To see Arsenal look so meek is very concerning.

In the final 50+ minutes after Arsenal scored they managed just 4 shots to Spurs 6, it was 0.2 xG to 1.0. Arsenal had a bit more of the territory with 86 to 60 in final third touches but it was possession without threat.

Arsenal’s players looked sapped of energy and ideas. I really had minimal hope of anything good happening and that was the case. Even with 10 minutes added, it felt like it could have been 100 and it would have been the same result.

Those early chances missed came back to haunt Arsenal badly.

Stock Rising: William Saliba