I'm not saying this is the reason we didn't win, because it wasn't, but Clattenburg was horrendous. Vertonghen and Wanyama should have both had four yellow cards each. We should have had a penalty. Rose and Janssen going down under the slightest bit of contact pissed me off because they are both physically strong players, yet Clattenburg gave them free-kicks. And the penalty was ****ing farcical - there was nothing wrong with Koscielny's tackle, yet Dembele went to the ground like a sniper had shot him. Probably the most inept, incompetent display from a referee I can remember for a long time.
We gave them the freedom of the emirates,always the same when we play a team with a good tactically astute manager.
Not impressed with the attitude and performance today...especially in the last half an hour. We didn't really look like the home team. I understand it's a north London derby and you don't want to lose it, but a bit too much caution from us as, again we were at home. Wanted a bit more desire to get the three points.
I really thought we'd get the win today, particularly at 1-0 up at half time but a draw isn't the end of the world, despite being disappointing. Joint points with City in second, a point behind Chelsea at the head of the table, maintained a 3 point gap on Tottenham. Hopefully Liverpool fail to take all three points today.
I know we like to take the piss out of Spurs a lot, but let's be honest, they are a difficult side for us to beat and that's been reflected in all our results since Pocchetino took over. I don't actually think we've beaten them in the league since he's been manager, which says a lot. Part of the reason is that they are a physically-superior side to us. I mean, putting their antics to one side, it was very difficult for us to stop the likes of Dembele gliding through midfield. Trying to win the ball back from him and Wanyama was a near impossible task. Dier was also a very tough-tackling, no-nonsense player who we struggled to get past. We have some physically tough players as well, but they way they're used to playing is different to Spurs, who are a very intense side that shut down space and press as good as any side in the division. I wanted Olivier to start the match because Alexis up against Vertonghen and Wimmer was a mismatch. We needed someone to hold the ball up and win aerial duels further up the pitch so that it can free up space for our other attacking players to get forward. When he was subbed on, this did happen on a few occasions - but he didn't get much service. There are certain games where Alexis up front will be effective as we have seen - but I don't think he should always be playing there regardless of the opposition because when it doesn't work, his influence is completely nullified and we lack ideas.
Spurs played with a very physical team today and a defensive formation so they could crowd the middle of the pitch. It meant neither side really had proper fluidity with the ball as the players and formation they used didn't allow for them to ping the ball around as that isn't the skill set of the big physical players, but the way they broke up play stopped us having a proper rhythm. It nullified a lot of the game and made it scrappy in the end. I agree Giroud might have been the better option to start up top today but is he potentially a little short of match fitness and Wenger wanted him on at the end of the game when things can open up a bit and players are starting to get tired?
Good post I agree. Also, part of the reason why they managed to find space so easily in some moments of the game was because I don't believe we pressed the ball at the right times. Let me give you an example. There was a moment in the first half where Wanyama had the ball in his own half. We had three players rushing to close him down for the same ball. A simple pass to Erisken (I think it was) then takes all those players out the game and it meant Spurs had more space to get forward and break. This happened on a few occasions and thankfully, it never led to anything meaningful, but I feel like it's something we need to work on when we're not in possession of the ball.
It's something I've noticed in a couple of our games recently. We have the desire to close and win the ball back but sometimes don't quite do it at the right times. Earlier in the season we seemed to have quite a good balance between closing high up the pitch and dropping off and regaining our defensive formation. I think it's something we need to rediscover whilst playing in the big games to avoid giving away unnecessary chances.
Agree, regarding us not pressing Spurs enough. We gave them far too much time on the ball for my liking.
You're right about his incompetence but for all the wrong reasons (you clearly need to sort your glasses out). You had players going down all over the shop all game (no wonder Jan got annoyed at Walcott). Your goal was clearly offside (Howard Webb saying it wasn't is the clearest indication). And stopping play when we're in a great position because your players ran into each other is a joke. BTW. The penalty was nailed on. nothing to debate there
I think the pen was the correct decision, but you're wrong about our goal being offside. Firstly it was an OG, secondly the player challenging Wimmer was onside, the only Arsenal player in an offside position wasn't interfering with play.
Walcott went down because from an arm across his face.. It was the second time wanyama had gone in with his arm and hit Walcott in the head. Vertonghen was being a little bitch by getting involved and it was him that caused the mini scene. How Wanyama avoided getting any kind of card in that game is a joke. The ref was clearly desperate not to be giving out lots of cards. Though he did give Koscielny one for a perfectly good tackle.
You're a Spurs fan and you're suggesting that I have rose-tinted specs on? You're hardly going to be objective yourself, so I'm not really interested in this nonsense. Your players got away with a lot today and you easily could have been down to 9 men. But whatever. It happens. Just accept that you got the rub of the green in some situations today. And it absolutely was not a penalty. Dembele is a strong boy. He was going down anyway and played for it. If you're going to give a penalty for that every time there is minimal contact, football may as well be a non-contact sport.
