Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned – Arsene Wenger got it wrong

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Arsenal travelled to Wembley on Saturday lunchtime to face Spurs in the second North London derby of the year. Here are five things we learned from the 1-0 loss.

Well, that was dreadful. Arsenal went to Wembley on Saturday buoyed by the off-field news of the additions of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the unlikely retention of Mesut Ozil. They seemingly forgot all of that added confidence and brightness as soon as the whistle was blown. Spurs may have only scored one goal, but make no bones about it, this was a battering.

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Here are five things we learned from the humiliating 1-0 loss.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

5. Dealing with the high press

Arsenal cannot deal with an opposition who are willing to press them when in possession. Even against lesser sides like Bournemouth and Watford, when the opposition have been willing to harass the Arsenal midfield and defence, they get great joy from it, both in terms of winning back possession high up the pitch and restricting the quality of the Gunners’ distribution. This was again painfully evident against Spurs.

It would not be fair to blame one specific player for these problems. They are a team issue, stemming from a lack of quality in the team’s passing and a poor spatial awareness to provide options for the man on the ball. But if there is one player who especially toils when under pressure, it is Granit Xhaka. Additionally, there is one player who flourishes in this area who has not been available all season, Santi Cazorla.

The contrast between the two players is stark, and painful. This was the type of game that Arsenal desperately needed a player like Cazorla. Calm, composed, precise. They were qualities that they desperately lacked, and Cazorla will not be returning anytime soon to rescue them. Changes are needed, and quickly.