Arteta's Arsenal Triumphed Over Abysmal Spurs!

My short thoughts on the North London Derby which ended 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates:

A good North London Derby at the Emirates on this Mothering Sunday. Dominant displays from Arsenal throughout the game- deserving the victory, but glimpses of chances for Spurs and they could've stolen the points from the Gunners.

Jose Mourinho set up very negatively which didn't work out. Fantastic rabona opening goal from Lamela. Son's injury had a big influence on the game. Odegaard scoring Arsenal's deserved equaliser before a Lacazette penalty to win. A red card and a late Harry Kane free-kick which hit the post!

Spurs were unlucky not to equalise at 2-2 when Kane hit the post from a late free-kick. However, throughout the majority of the game Spurs didn't look sharp going forward, apart from when the went down to 10 men, surprisingly. Lamela's dirty tactics (yet again) sent him for an early bath after he elbowed Tierney in the face following a succession of fouls.

Mikel Arteta chose not to play Aubameyang due to "disciplinary reasons" (being late) and Lacazette stepped up to the plate. Although sloppy at times, his hold up play was good and he won and converted the penalty to ultimately win the game for Arsenal. Before Lamela's goal to put Spurs in the lead, Arsenal were very unlucky not to score a couple first. Emile Smith-Rowe's dipping shot from outside of the box beat Lloris and cannoned back off of the bar. Full back Cedric had a rebound shot rattled off of Lloris' left-hand post. But Arsenal carved away and with Odegaard's equaliser and Lacazette's converted penalty, they bagged two goals which turned out to be enough for Arteta's men and won them the three points. A special mention to Gabriel for his absolutely vital header, after Kane's free-kick which hit the post, as the rebound effort was heading goal-bound.

Even though this defeat sheds poor light on Mourinho and his negative tactics, Spurs are still going strong in the Europa League and have a League Cup final to look forward to, which is a chance for Jose to bring home a long awaited trophy to White Hart Lane. Son's injury (which what looks like to be hamstring) will impact how Spurs' season finishes massively. His link up play with Kane this season has been vital and Kane, by his standards, was very quiet today. Bale ghosted in the game and Hojbjerg was dominated by the Partey/Xhaka pivot.

After the game Jose Mourinho stated "My record with him [Michael Oliver] on penalties is astonishing with Chelsea, Man Utd & Spurs. I’m very unlucky with such a good referee. No post-match interviews for referees?"

He continued to say... "We didn't have the intensity to play. Everybody was dropping back to have the ball at their feet and nobody was attacking the gap. People hiding themselves, no intensity, no passing and moving. We were poor. As simple as that."

A big victory for Arsenal which fans will hope will push them on to succeed in the Europa League and finish as high as they can in what's been a mediocre league campaign for the Gunners. For Spurs, they have a League Cup final to look forward to and are 2-0 up in their first Europa League leg.