Before Tottenham’s defeat in the North London derby, fans were ecstatic. Up until that moment, everything appeared to be coming up in their favour. Unfortunately, it didn’t last and the Gunners provided Andre Villas-Boas’ boys with a stark reminder that they wouldn’t have things all their way this season.
The result game as something as a surprise as it seemed to defy all the pre-game rhetoric, punditry and nonsense that preceded the fixture. Just about everybody expected Spurs to coast to a victory over the Gunners. I’m sure even Arsenal fans will admit, given what had come before, that they were surprised by the result (and the performance).
Spurs had built up a wave of good feeling and it looked like they were going to ride it for some time. Indeed, Tottenham won their first two games (with admittedly unspectacular performances) and looked extremely well placed for the coming season.
There was a certain robustness about Tottenham’s performances that stood out. With the likes of Moussa Dembele, Etienne Capoue and Paulinho bossing the midfield, Spurs are now a physically imposing proposition. What’s more, after his summer of spending, Andre Villas-Boas’s squad now has excellent strength in depth.
So why didn’t Spurs win the North London derby?
There are a few reasons. The foremost is that Arsenal were the better team on the day. The Gunners midfield simply sparkles with creativity and Tottenham’s industrious team couldn’t stop them from crafting opportunities.
Then there’s the fact that it was more or less a ‘must win’ game for Arsenal (who had plenty to lose), whilst this was not really the case for Tottenham.
Finally, I think it’s fair to say that the Gareth Bale saga has affected the club like a bad head-cold. No matter what the players say, losing your best player has a bid effect on a team. He was the focal point of the team last year and it seems that Roberto Soldado still needs some time to adapt to the Premier League.
What’s more, with all Tottenham’s new additions, it’s going to take some time for the team as a whole to gel. You can’t simply throw 8 new players together and expect them to perform. It’s going to take time.
Whilst players have been easy to come by, you get the feeling that time and patience will be harder for Andre Villas-Boas to buy this season. These new signings have built up levels of expectation at White Hart Lane.
Nothing less than fourth place is good enough. That, however may be one step too far for Spurs this season.
What’s your take? What can Tottenham achieve this year?
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Jesus, give Spurs a chance to field their best team before you write them off! Erikssen should help a break down stubborn formations and the counter attack will be sharp as ever with Lamela slotting in and the improved midfield athleticism.
The King is dead, viva la revolucion!
Very happy to be spurs looking at these comments, obviously you have to have little grasp of football or English to be a gooner.
Sack the writer of this drivel. Firstly he taunts as he says everyone expected Spurs to beat Arsenal? Every person I know all said this game was coming too early for the Spurs team.
Secondly we signed 7 players 3 of which either didn’t play or made a cameo debut without having had any time to play with their new team mates.
After the game the Arsenal players were knackered. 6 full backs and a well parked bus against a very new team. Last season we got beat 5-2 with Bale in the team. That alone shows a lot of improvement. How desperate were Arsenal in the closing stages of the game?
I doubt it will take long for Eriksen and Lamela to join up with Soldado. Once AVB wakes up and dumps the error prone Dawson we will have an awesome back 4. A solid fluid midfield with some good striking options.
Lastly our season died last year when Sandro got injured. He arrived late in the second half and Arsenal wilted.
Just to deflect some obvious flak the writer tries to cover his arse with it’ll take Spurs a while to gel.
Boss – “Don’t forget we’re waiting for an article from you”
Harry – “I better come up with something quick, hmmm…3 games in and Spurs only have 6 points, how much trouble are they in? That’ll do.”
Agree with other comments, gotta be a gooner !! Hardly think 1-0 at home was a dominant performance. Will be a different result in the return bout at the Lane. And our transfer dealings are far more impressive than the single quality signing that Wenger made. Problem with dear old Arsne is he only reckons French players are worth signing.
So Mr Cloke, slither your way back down to the Emirates….and mind your own sodding business !!!!!!!
Good point John, it’s not like we haven’t scored from open play this year, just not in the prem yet.. An were only 3 games in!!!
This whole argument stems from the gunners being scared that Tottenham may well end up the better team soon as arse won’t spend anything for 2/3 years now they have ozil and spurs fans buy our very nature are to scared to dream we may actually be the team we’ve all been waiting for.. Just in case they let us down again. The truth is, and this is the truth… Spurs are going to be a bigger, stronger, faster, team with more depth and quality international players in nearly all areas and on the bench. We sold our best player and brought 7! first team players. Thats fact! We just need a bit of time, an if we remain solid and win a few games through penalties or 1 nill Victories in the processes even better. The future is bright for spurs.. No question. COYS
it seemed AVB didn’t watch the Villa game as Spurs midfielders werent tight on the Arsenal midfielders. They stood off and were too slow. Sandro moved up the pace and was much more effective. Dembele was very poor and I felt Holtby should have replaced him instead of Defoe. I would be much more worried if I was Wnger as Arsenal seemed the away team and they played with 6-3-1 at home. If Spurs played like that and won at home, Spurs fans would be unhappy as Spurs never park the bus. Soldado must be more mobile and he improved in the last 20 minutes. Arsenal were lucky not to have conceded especially with Walkers miss. Spurs will be OK as they will win most of their matches with Eriksen’s introduction and Lamela’s influence. Goals will not be a problem and I will be surprised if Spurs dont make top 4 and win a trophy this season. As per Arsenal. they would crumble under any physical team as Villa did and once the usual injuries creep in.
@nkusuny you re right, the truth is Spuds has made some good signing, but non can get into Arsenal’s 1st team. I like Capoue but Per is faster. Talking about Lamela and Errikson, they are yet to prove their selfs in Epl, and i must assure you they re not the catalyst spuds required. Soldado = Bentner, Lamela = Miyachi, Errikson = Zelalem. Lloris was Spuds man of the match, that shows which team was the better team. Ooh Spuds have the chance to make it one one, hahaha Arsenal would have been 4 up by then. Spuds we are not competing with you…. We Are Cl Team. 16 consecutive time in Cl is not a day job. Ooh we havn’t won it? You have to be in it to have a chance of winning it.