Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 2-1 North London Derby win

Positive #2: Leandro Trossard provides something extra

Injuries forced Arteta to go against his natural instincts and actually rotate, but Trossard made it a welcome change. He did so by injecting the little something extra that had been missing from the Arsenal forward line for too long.

The something extra was a willingness to try a trick or two. Like when Trossard sent Spurs full-back Pedro Porro tumbling with this impish turn.

He wasn't afraid to provide some flair, but Trossard was also brave enough to take on a shot from distance whenever he could. This willingness made the winning goal possible.

Shooting from distance cuts down the route to goal for a team struggling to manufacture chances with one- and two-touch passing and through balls. Trossard's bravado also yielded another benefit.

You can't win a prize if you don't buy a ticket, and being prepared to take part can bring some luck. Trossard earned Arsenal some when he "won" the corner Gabriel headed home.

Luck has been in short supply this season, so Arteta and Co. will welcome getting more than they deserved for a change. They'd also welcome something Trossard-like from another experienced winger.

Negative #2: Raheem Sterling struggled

He was lively during the otherwise flat defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup, but Raheem Sterling couldn't get up to speed against Spurs. It's not that the 30-year-old was lacking for ideas, but every pass was played and every shot taken a fraction of a second too late to yield anything positive.

Sterling was also strangely hesitant to unleash his pace in direct lines against a passive Tottenham back four. Too many runs were stop-start and uncoordinated.

Arsenal need Sterling to provide new ideas up front, but something new may require a shift in tactical thinking. Perhaps playing Sterling as a false nine.

He at least needs a few more minutes to help knock off the rust and adapt to the pace of a team that relies on turnovers high up the pitch to offset a lack of creativity.

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