Arsenal Vs Spurs: Recap, Highlights And Analysis

The North London derby took place on Sunday. Here is the full recap, all the highlights and analysis from Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Spurs.

A draw is a fair result. The old adage that so often rings true is the phrase that resonates through my mind as I write this piece. Chances were there, the ruthlessness was not, and ultimately, both Arsenal and Spurs would be happy with the 1-1 draw.

The first half started in worrying fashion for the Gunners. Spurs, employing a newly appointed three-at-the-back system, dominated the early stages of the game, with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil struggling to get on the ball, and Heung-Min Son causing all sorts of problems on the break, with one particular run after turning Shkodran Mustafi looking very dangerous and Moussa Dembele marshalling proceedings wonderfully from central areas.

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However, after a scare from a Harry Kane header that slid past the far post, Arsenal began to dissect the Spurs side. Francis Coquelin won the battle of the midfield, Ozil began to pull the strings and the pace and movement of Sanchez and Theo Walcott stretched the back three of Spurs. Alex Iwobi had the first guilt edged opportunity of the game, after being released thanks to some wonderful interplay between Ozil and Sanchez, Walcott cracked a vicious shot against the post and Ozil volleyed the rebound over the bar.

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The goal came through the unlucky head of Kevin Wimmer. Ozil whipped in a delicious inswinging free kick, with Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny lurking behind him, Wimmer was forced into trying to clear the ball and planted the header into the bottom corner past the sprawling hand of Hugo Lloris.

Half-time came and went and with it, the game changed. Spurs pressed higher up the pitch, the fluid Arsenal passing that had dominated the latter stages of the first half misfired and the equaliser came via the penalty spot. Koscielny tripped a strong Moussa Dembele just inside the area with a wayward leg and Kane, as he does with almost automatic regularity, bagged his goal against Arsenal, placing the penalty just above the diving Petr Cech.

Late on, there were plenty of half chances for both sides. Olivier Giroud had a couple of headers saved comfortably Hugo Lloris, a Cech slip nearly allowed Son in on an empty goal while Vincent Janssen was proving that he’s a waste of money by whiffing a volley 12 yards out after a quick free kick had initially caught out the Gunners’ defence.

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Ultimately, Wenger’s side were perhaps marginally the better side, but with clear cut chances few and far between a draw is likely a fair result. Spurs will be happier with the point, but the bragging rights in North London are still yet to be decided.

Highlights

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