First Thoughts: Arsenal vs Tottenham

My raw reaction on the final whistle to the North London Derby

First thoughts, some positives, no negatives today, and all the graphics.

Main Takeaway: Arsenal grab their chance to pull clear

What a weekend.

Arsenal put a cherry on top with a 4-1 dismantling in the derby and that scoreline was reflective of the gulf between the teams.

Arsenal’s gut punch draw before the international break let Manchester City get a bit closer but they lost yesterday at Newcastle. Liverpool started off what looked like a potentially soft part of their schedule with a 0-3 match AT ANFIELD.

It was set up so well for Arsenal to open up a lead at the top of the table. Arsenal fans often struggle when the chances are there for good things to happen and that made it feel like this match was being set up to end in heartbreak.

This is a different Arsenal and they were glad to capitalize on the stumble and did so making a massive statement.

Spurs came into the match with a set up that said “we don’t think that we can cope with Arsenal” (even with an attacking lineup that is still far from full strength) going with three center backs and looking poised to try and see if they could catch out a mistake or something from the break.

From the opening kickoff it was just not there for them as they got penned in deep in their own half and they had no outlet to get the ball out. Looking the average locations here, the game starts near the Spurs goal defended and the average location never left that side of the pitch.

One of the goals when a team comes out with three center backs and wingbacks to force them all the way back and not let them get out, they are outnumbered in the middle that way and that is exactly what Arsenal were able to do here. Arsenal in the first half here pressed so effectively and were set up perfectly that when Spurs did try and get the ball up the field they were there to come away with the second ball and ready for another wave of attack.

Arsenal just did not let Spurs get a sniff of a foothold in this match. It sucks that there is the blemish of the goal against that stopped this from being a 4-0 result but I think that this still goes down as one of the more dominate performances of the season for Arsenal and one that will make all of us so happy.

Enjoy this one.

Adam and I will podcast later this afternoon and it will be a fun one.

Positives