Whether or not or not you agree with the evaluation that the weekend’s north London derby was certainly one of Mikel Arteta‘s largest matches as Arsenal supervisor, the Gunners definitely weren’t with out their issues.
Arteta was given sleepless nights over the previous couple of days together with his squad of gamers seemingly dropping like flies.
First, it was Declan Rice’s crimson card in opposition to Brighton, then it was the evaluation that dominated Mikel Merino out for a month. Then, arguably, got here the worst information but. Skipper Martin Odegaard laid down in a crumpled heap as his Norway group beat Austria in a formidable 2-1 win.
Though the playmaker was capable of stroll from the pitch it wasn’t with no limp and a few ache. The early thought there may be that we could not see the attacking midfielder earlier than October’s worldwide break.
So, with a patched-up midfield Arteta’s males took the brief journey throughout north London to face their bitter rivals. The tip outcome? An Arsenal win, after all.
Spurs created lots however had been finally fruitless with their endeavours within the last third. The Gunners struggled to create possibilities of their very own however held agency on the again and relied on their set-pieces to get them out of bother.
Arsenal’s finest participant vs Spurs
You possibly can at all times depend on Bukayo Saka to give you the products on days like this and he duly did, delivering set-piece coach Nicolas Jover’s routines to absolute perfection.
The Gunners could nicely have been relieved for some unusual defender from Cristian Romero however Gabriel evaded the Argentine’s consideration as if he wasn’t even there earlier than planting a bullet header into the again of the web.
Cue bedlam. Gabriel charged off together with his associate in crime and finest bud William Saliba in tow, darting in the direction of the away help who had been leaping up and down within the nook of the bottom.
The Brazilian deservedly received the Participant of the Match award for what was a really dominating show, successful two of his three duels, finishing 80% of his passes and making a somewhat staggering eight clearances.
Unsurprisingly handed an 8/10 match ranking by Soccer.London’s Kaya Kaynak, if summed up his battling efficiency nicely. To make issues much more intriguing, no different Premier League defender has scored greater than the Arsenal centre-back since his debut in 2020/21.
Most targets by PL centre-backs since Gabriel’s debut | |
|---|---|
Participant | Purpose tally |
1. Gabriel | 15 |
2. Kurt Zouma | 11 |
3. Lewis Dunk | 10 |
4. Ben Mee | 10 |
5. Virgil van Dijk | 9 |
6. Michael Keane | 9 |
7. Fabin Schar | 9 |
8. John Stones | 8 |
Information by way of BBC Sport. | |
So, he’s fairly good in defence and he’s a uncommon breed within the opposition’s penalty space too.
In consequence, he has simply helped Arteta obtain one thing we’ve not seen for 35 years.
35-year document damaged
Lately the north London derby has been a thriller. It’s been filled with targets and normally, it’s been a reasonably tight recreation. It’s definitely certainly one of, if not the very best, derby within the Premier League.
Sunday’s conflict could not have ranked extremely on the joy scale nevertheless it marked a brand new daybreak on this heated rivalry.
Arsenal at the moment are the dominant power in north London – they normally have been – however historical past dictates they’re having fun with certainly one of their finest runs on this fixture now for fairly a while.
Spurs vs Arsenal (final 7 conferences) | |
|---|---|
Date | End result |
fifteenth Sept 2024 | 1-0 Arsenal win |
twenty eighth April 2024 | 3-2 Arsenal win |
twenty fourth Sept 2023 | 2-2 draw |
fifteenth Jan 2023 | 2-0 Arsenal win |
1st Oct 2022 | 3-1 Arsenal win |
twelfth Might 2022 | 3-0 Spurs win |
twenty sixth Sept 2021 | 3-1 Arsenal defeat |
Arteta’s merry males are unbeaten of their final 5 derbies and so they have now received at Spurs three video games in a row. That’s a bitter capsule to swallow for the Lilywhites who haven’t seen that occur now for 35 years.
Certainly, you need to return to the Nineteen Eighties for the final time Arsenal put collectively a run of three wins away at Tottenham.
A 3-2 victory on the tenth September 1988 noticed them lengthen their run with targets from Brian Marwood, Alan Smith and Nigel Winterburn wrapping up all three factors. For the hosts, it was Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne who had discovered the web. How nostalgic.
That was a fixture filled with legends with Arsenal fielding the likes of David Rocastle, Paul Merson, David O’Leary and Tony Adams. The place does the time go, eh?
Now, the Gunners are busy constructing a brand new legacy, a brand new set of potential legends who’re going to battle ever so arduous to topple Manchester Metropolis.
Their hardest check of the brand new marketing campaign will come subsequent weekend when the Residents await. Either side are unbeaten however one thing must give.
