Kevin Whitcher
Chelsea’s unforeseen capitulation at Villa Park on Saturday evening certainly put the cat amongst the title race pigeons, and both Liverpool and Arsenal took advantage of the encouragement offered in a season where nothing has been predictable.
Results are everything, and Arsenal achieved the required one at Spurs. If one were to compare the performances of Arsenal and Liverpool, you would favour Brendan Rodgers’ team above the Gunners as the side most likely to threaten the big spenders in the top four. However, today, who cares? What is important in the table is that Arsenal did win, not how.
It was a cracking start to the game. The selection of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as one of the deeper midfielders indicated Arsenal would go for it, as they had to, and with little over a minute played, it paid dividends. I remember Tomas Rosicky scoring a belter of a goal in a Champions League away group game in his debut season, and thinking – the club have bought quality. It should have heralded many more such strikes, but it was not to be. Still, all these years on, and only another two seasons away from a testimonial, he is beginning to demonstrate why he was brought to the club, with some fine contributions and the odd goal. One thing he is definitely not is shot shy, and with a finish like that witnessed today, no wonder. It was a thing of beauty, even if the assist from the Ox was slightly fortuitous.
Oxlade-Chamberlain himself should have made it 2-0 moments later, as Spurs’ high defensive line was shown to be highly vulnerable, but construed to put his chip over the keeper well wide when clean through. In the end it didn’t matter, but at the time, it felt like a glorious opportunity spurned. Tim Sherwood was mentally losing it with his players, as if to establish his Spurs credentials. He had good reason with some of the defending that was going on in the early moments.
The game developed into one of Arsenal soaking up pressure and having the odd counter attack, presumably a consequence of their early lead rather than a gameplan. After all, if that was the intention, the Ox would have played as one of the wide attackers from the off. Emmanuel Adebayor was a constant threat, although Koscielny battled hard to ensure he never had a clear cut opportunity. Even so, Spurs were definitely on top, enjoying both possession and territory. Giroud’s own lack of pace meant that he ploughed a fairly fruitless furrow for much of this game, although as long as it remained 1-0, nothing was required of him except to make himself a nuisance to the home side’s backline.
The first ten minutes after the interval saw Arsenal on the ropes, and in truth, Spurs should have scored from a glorious chance that Chadli fired against one of the centre backs with Szczesny beaten. There were other opportunities too, but the visitors weathered the storm and got back into the game. They seemed able to soak up what remained of Spurs’ pressure, although the replacement of Rosicky, Podolski and the Ox by Flamini, Monreal and Vermaelen tells you all you need to know about Arsenal’s intentions as the clock ticked down.
In the end, Spurs ran out of steam, unable to break through an excellent defensive display by Arsenal, especially the two centre-backs. It would be harsh to criticize their lack of possession because the early goal completely shaped the game. I think it is fair to say that Wenger’s team will have to improve on this performance next weekend if they are to take anything from Chelsea. There is a thought that a draw might actually be a good enough result, as long as the team can then beat both Swansea and Manchester City in their next two matches.
The title is definitely there for the taking, although with both Liverpool and Manchester City also in contention, I would argue that Arsenal probably need to take all three points at Chelsea, as much as anything to avoid being overtaken by others in the event of Jose Mourinho’s team dropping further points. Obviously Liverpool’s home matches against Chelsea and Manchester City will determine a lot, with two draws probably being the best results for Arsenal.
Still, all the Gunners can do is to go out and try and win every game. This north London derby was not typical, and it is difficult to draw any conclusions from the match aside from the impression that team spirit is good, and that the goals they need to win the title will probably not come from the striker, who has given what he has, and will continue to do so, but is running on empty. Four very difficult encounters over four weekends awaited them, and the first has been successfully negotiated. Arsenal must now rest, recover and get ready to step up the quality of their performance at Stamford Bridge next Saturday. A win there would really change a few minds about this current line-up.
Will Jose Mourinho be allowed on the touchline for that game? Who knows. One thing though is certain, the man is pure box office and the Premier League is a more interesting place with him around.
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