Kevin Whitcher
The feeling before this cup tie was that, with key players either injured or rested, a full-strength Spurs line up could make for an unpleasant afternoon. We needn’t have worried. Tim Sherwood fielded a 4-4-2 formation that had proved successful at Southampton and Old Trafford, but found themselves over-run in midfield. In this light, the selection of teenager Nabil Bentaleb for the visitors was certainly a leap of faith.
Spurs did manage to fashion a very decent chance when Eriksen fired at the keeper with the score at 0-0 thanks to a poor Koscielny interception, but for the most part, were dominated by a far more switched on Arsenal line-up. The selection of Theo Walcott as the lone striker worked to an extent – until the number 14 was asked to put the ball in the net, but the opportunities he was afforded demonstrated that there is an alternative to the Giroud/Bendtner type forward. However, Walcott’s finishing is a concern. It does not look like a problem the manager will have to think about for a while as he was stretchered off injured, taking the opportunity to remind the Spurs fans unable to see the score on the far video screen what the score was. All in the name of public service. One imagines he was getting plenty of abuse whilst lying prone on the turf to do that.
By that time, the game looked safe, even though it reduced Arsenal to ten men. Nowadays, a two goal lead is not something that triggers anxiety in the defence and the crowd. We all remember the 4-2 that became a 4-4 in Harry Redknapp’s first game as Tottenham boss in the same stadium. Whether it is because of Steve Bould or a different set of players, the Gunners seem less brittle five years on.
The first goal was a beautifully executed finish by Cazorla after the impressive Serge Gnabry had set the chance up on a plate. To a man, Arsenal played excellently, although most people’s man of the match was Tomas Rosicky. He robbed Danny Rose for the Gunners’ second, and the moment he finished put me in mind of another Thomas goal – Mickey’s at Anfield in 1989. Bearing down on goal with a defender chasing him, and you just hoping he could get his shot away before the ball is taken from him. Rosicky’s displays this season have been a reminder of what could have been when the player joined the club long ago in 2006. We have so rarely seen the best of him.
It was an authoritative performance that augurs well for the immediate matches to come. Arsenal made light of a potentially difficult encounter. It was a combination of their own superior ability and the opposition’s poor display, an indication that even with a new manager, Spurs’ old habit of inconsistency remains. One imagines Tim Sherwood’s plan was simply to take the game to Arsenal and have them on the back foot with two forwards, but the home side won their duels and intercepted most of their attempts to work the ball forward. Perhaps the problem with too many new players is they don’t get the significance of the derby to their fans and fail to raise their level appropriately. This observer did believe that Sherwood was going to pump up his troops and get them playing out of their skin for this game, but perhaps the effort of taking 10 points out of 12 over the Christmas period has taken too much out of them. Arsenal achieved a similar points tally, but looked fresher. The ability to rotate in midfield without weakening the side could be a factor in this.
Progress in the FA Cup may be seen as a distraction by the manager. Certainly, we will always see weakened sides start games in this competition, and that has been the case even going back to the days when the club were winning it regularly. However, psychologically, defeats have had a knock on effect in the past, with the wheels coming off promising seasons after a poor display in the competition and an exit leaving them to supposedly concentrate on more significant prizes.
As for the striker issue, the manager knows what the situation with Giroud, Bendtner and Walcott’s likely time of return. If he was going to buy a forward in the current transfer window, now would seem the optimum time rather than waiting until the end of January. However, if it does happen, one suspects it will be at the end of the month, if at all. In the meantime, the feeling about the team is positive due to the four wins out of four since Christmas Day. Let us hope this consistency continues for a lengthy spell and the goals keep coming when it matters.
The current issue of The Gooner featuring a free 2014 ‘Wow Signings’ calendar will be on sale at the away game at Villa. It can also be bought online here. A new issue will be on sale for the next Arsenal home game v Fulham on 18th January.
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