3 positives & negatives from frustrating North London derby

Positive #3: Effective pressing (in the first half)

Before the match, I discussed how ‘Angeball’ could provide us with plenty of opportunities to make use of our pressing to force the Spurs players into mistakes. In the first half especially, that was certainly the case and at times, Tottenham found it very difficult to effectively play through our press.

When Gabriel Jesus dispossessed James Maddison inside his own 18-yard box, it looked as though that pressing was finally going to be rewarded with a goal – only for the Brazilian to wildly fire his effort over the bar.

While we were largely unable to replicate the same effectiveness in our pressing in the second half, our pressing in the first half was certainly a positive to take from the match.

Negative #3: Injuries

To add salt in the wound of every disappointed Arsenal fan, the news of Declan Rice’s injury, albeit the seriousness of which is unknown at this stage, as well as Saka limping off in the second half are potentially huge blows for the side.

Speaking after the game, Arteta confirmed that Rice was substituted at halftime due to injury, saying:

"“He had some discomfort in his back, and he was telling us during the first half that he wasn’t comfortable. When we assessed him at half-time, he couldn’t continue, so we had to change him.”"

Saka’s withdrawal is far more likely to be nothing more than a precaution, but with Thomas Partey already injured, Rice being sidelined for an extended period would be a huge loss for the team.