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Home > Arsenal > A Derby to Forget for Arsenal | Three Crucial Lessons Learnt From the 3-0 Loss to Tottenham

A Derby to Forget for Arsenal | Three Crucial Lessons Learnt From the 3-0 Loss to Tottenham

Spurs v Arsenal, Spurs vs Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

There are three notable things we got to see as Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal 3-0 to stay in the race for the fourth Champions League spot. The Spurs needed the victory on Friday to reduce the gap between fourth-placed Gunners and them. Now, they are just a point behind Arsenal in the Premier League table.

The home team took the lead through a Harry Kane penalty after Son Heung-min was fouled inside the box. Then a series of events followed where Rob Holding received two yellow cards in seven minutes for fouling Son, reducing the Gunners to 10 men.

Spurs took full advantage of the extra man as Kane doubled his tally just before half-time. The Kane-Son combo continued their destruction with Son netting in the third after the restart and finishing off the Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal game.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
Image Obtained via The Independent

It was a truly disastrous evening for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta was absolutely fuming with the officials in his post-match interview. After the game, Arteta was clearly frustrated with the performance of referee Paul Tierney but refused to reveal his thoughts. The Arsenal manager said:

“If I say what I think, I am suspended six months so I cannot say. I am allowed to give my interpretation of what happened in the game, but I don’t know how to lie and I don’t like lying. So I prefer not to say what I think.”

Let us look at three things that went wrong for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby:

Harry Kane Shows Up For The North London Derby Again

If we could predict one thing before this unpredictable derby, it was that Harry Kane would turn up with a big match performance. Kane moved to 13 goals in 17 games against the Gunners in the Premier League and seems to always give his best performances in these derbies. He literally showed Arteta what he needs on the other side of the pitch with Arsenal failing to score a goal.

Despite Eddie Nketiah’s form, in games like this where the stakes are high, the Gunners need an experienced striker on the pitch. The inexperience in the attacking line seems to be a cause of big concern for Arteta with European football back at Emirates next season. They will need to invest in two strikers, with Lautaro Martinez, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, and Moussa Diaby all looking like strong contenders.

Arsenal’s Defensive Crisis Gets Exposed

Arteta has found success switching from the 4-3-3 formation to the 4-2-3-1 setup. With a stabilised centre-back pairing of Gabriel and Ben White, supported by Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the flanks, the Gunners have managed to keep 12 clean sheets this season. But because of injuries to White, Tierney and Tomiyasu, Arsenal have lacked the squad depth several times this season.

On Friday, the controversial red card decision to Holding meant Nuno Tavares had to be brought on at left-back, with Tomiyasu moving into the centre-back role. Arteta has somehow managed to use his resources in multiple positions to solve the defensive crisis this season. But against a low-block team like Tottenham Hotspur who depend solely on counter-attacks, the Arsenal defence was exposed by the players playing in make-shift positions.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal, Rob Holding
Image Obtained via talkSPORT

With only two Premier League games left, the Gunners will be short on defenders, with Gabriel leaving the field against Spurs with a possible hamstring injury, Holding suspended and White still recovering. Arteta will have to invest heavily on defensive backups for next season.

Conte Outclassed Arteta In Terms of Tactics

The Spurs team under Antonio Conte look so impressive, so organised and solid in defence, with the deadly combo of Kane and Son a permanent menace in attack. He has brought the best out of this team, especially after making the January signing of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta, Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
Image obtained via Getty Images

The tactical discipline in defence is apparent despite injuries to Cristian Romero, Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilón, something Arteta can take notes from his rival boss. Arteta is still inexperienced compared to Conte but will have to pick up that skill to tactically outclass opposition in big games if he wants to have a prolonged and successful managerial career full of trophies.

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Tottenham Hotspur have two easy fixtures against Burnley and Norwich City in the remaining games which they have to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal. The Gunners, despite this setback, will know that their destiny is in their own hands. They have an away game at Newcastle United and a game at home on the final day against relegation candidates Everton who will fight tooth and nail to get some points that will help them survive in the Premier League next season.

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