Another sad Sunday: All the fallout from Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Spurs
Another sad Sunday: All the fallout as Arsenal fall to a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby
By Adam Le RouxIf ever there was proof needed of how much the tide has been changing in North London recently, Sunday’s match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be the prime example.
A Spurs side brimming with confidence brushed aside Arsenal with ease in the first meeting of the two rivals this season, despite the Gunners having the lion’s share of the ball. They got well and truly Mourinho-ed.
With over two thirds of possession, the visitors controlled the game for large parts, but as has so often been the case this season, finding the breakthrough proved elusive.
The hosts meanwhile, made the most of their time with the ball at their feet, with Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane finding the net in the first half to put them in the ascendency.
And from there, the Gunners never really looked like getting back into the game, as they succumbed to their sixth Premier League defeat of the season, making it their worst start to a season since 1981/82, but where did it all go wrong against their local rivals?
A lack of attack is Holding Arsenal back
With their troubles in front of goal continuing, it is now one goal from open play in the last seven Premier League matches for Mikel Arteta’s side, as they drew yet another blank on Sunday.
You have to go all the way back to the 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at the start of October for the last time an Arsenal striker found the net in a league game, aside from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty at Old Trafford last month.
That run is far too long for any side, let alone one that prides itself on its attacking football like Arsenal, with only the three sides in the relegation zone finding the net less times than the Gunners this campaign.
The dearth of creativity was there for all to see against Spurs, with very few clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes, with the whole team lacking the flair and sparkle to fashion an opening.
And defender Rob Holding admits the whole team is infuriated with their lacklustre performances in front of goal recently, with the search for a goal - never mind a win - becoming more desperate by the day.
"It is a record that you don't want to be a part of. We are frustrated as players and we are letting the fans down. We need to change that, win some games and put that to bed,” Holding said.
"Finding the back of the net just seems to be a problem at the moment, but hopefully there is going to be a bit of luck to change that, hopefully the goals will start to come.
"They took their chances and that's the story of the game. No matter how many crosses we put in, if we don't get on the end of it, and put it in the back of the net, it is pointless at the end of the day.
"We are getting the chances, it is just putting them away. Maybe the first goal we get will just be a bit of a deflection or a trickle into the net and bit of luck on our side.
"Then hopefully the confidence will be there to carry on and score some more goals. But we just need that little bit of luck to put one in the back of the net.”
With Burnley the next side to visit the Emirates next weekend, it could be the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to put the baron spell behind them, with the Clarets suffering just as much in front of goal recently.
One thing is for sure though, with a lack of incision up front, the Gunners look to be playing second fiddle to their local rivals for some time to come, with Son’s opening goal meaning the Korean has just as many goals as the whole Arsenal team this season.
Whisper it quietly, but surely any Gooner would admit they would happily have Kane and Son in their starting lineup right now?
Tottenham was too soon for Thomas
We’ve all been yearning for his return to the first team ever since he went off injured against Aston Villa last month, but it seemed as if Thomas Partey was rushed back for the North London Derby, and Arsenal paid the consequence.
Already a goal down, Arsenal needed to be pulling in the same direction to try to find an equaliser, but the Ghanaian seemed to be in a world of his own in the buildup to Spurs’ crucial second strike.
With the hosts set to counter from their own half, Partey was stood on the sidelines nursing an injury, setting up a four-on-two situation, which Harry Kane duly took advantage of.
The former Atletico Madrid man was then swiftly substituted after the debacle, but not before puncturing any hopes Arsenal had of getting back into the game.
It begs the question: was the £45m man ready to make his comeback on Sunday, or was he forced back into the mire prematurely? Either way, it wasn’t a gamble that paid off for Mikel Arteta, with the summer signing set for more time on the sidelines.
"Thomas is out, he's limping, he's in pain, he has to come off and we lost a man in that crucial transition moment," Arteta said after the game.
"I wanted him on the pitch, doing whatever he could for the team in that situation. No one expected him not to be in that position.”
"I was trying to push him back on the pitch, I don't think he realised the gravity of the situation when he left his position
"That was probably because he was in a lot of pain. There is nothing we can do at the moment to resolve that.”
Are Arteta’s days numbered?
You never want to admit that a manager may be in line for losing his job, or that Arsenal are in line to becoming one of the plethora of clubs that recycle managers like old newspapers, but with the Gunners languishing in 15th place after the weekend’s action, is Mikel Arteta really the right man at the helm?
The powers that be at the Emirates are known for their patience with the man in charge compared to a lot of other Premier League owners, but even they must be questioning their decision after a fifth successive match against Tottenham without tasting success.
The majority of Arsenal fans were happy to give the Spaniard time when results started to go against them in October, but with the hapless run continuing there already murmurs of discontent among the fanbase.
Unai Emery was shown the door with a better record than the Gunners currently have at a similar stage last season, and if things don’t start to change, we may be seeing his compatriot facing a similar fate soon.
Looking ahead, a run of fixtures against Burnley, Southampton and Everton before Christmas could offer the boss some respite and get some much-needed momentum going, but if the goals aren’t forthcoming, it could be a long winter ahead.
