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: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts prior to 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: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts prior to 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) /

1. Arsene Wenger got it wrong

Arsenal had a real chance to make a statement. New signings. Positive feeling. Aggressive, attacking players. But Arsene Wenger got safe, conservative. Oddly, he got defensive, and it did not work.

By playing such a deep defensive line, Arsenal accentuated their flaws and allowed Spurs to control and dictate the game. The players lack the mental capabilities to concentrate for a full 90 minutes. They have continually struggled to deal with opposing teams who employ a high press. Spurs have the movement, patience and quality to unpick even the most disciplined of defences. With Harry Kane, they can cross from deeper positions, as they did for the goal, and exploit his physical superiority.

These were all vices and virtues of the two respective sides that were known before this game. And yet, Wenger played straight into such a pattern of play. He even showed his awareness of such weaknesses last time out. His Arsenal side played in an aggressive, pressing, high-energy manner that suffocated Spurs. That was how they should have played on Saturday. They didn’t.

Next: Arsenal Vs Spurs: Player ratings

There was much wrong with this performance. There is no individual that can avoid criticism or questioning. But it is Wenger who must shoulder a large majority of the blame. He got his tactics wrong; his team paid the price.