PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 15TH JANUARY, 2025
(8PM)
ARSENAL 2(2) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1)
Arsenal scorers:-
Solanke (o.g.), 40
Trossard, 44
Spurs scorer:-
Son, 25
Attendance:- 60,287
Referee:- Simon Hooper
Assistants:- Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official:- Tim Robinson
VAR:- Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR:- Tim Wood
Teams:-
Arsenal (4-3-3):- 22. Raya; 12. Timber, 2. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 49. Lewis-Skelley (sub 17. Zinchenko, 87); 8. Odegaard (Capt.), 5. Partey, 41. Rice (sub 23. Merino, 87); 30, Sterling (sub 11. Martinelli, 61), 29. Havertz, 19. Trossard (sub 3. Tierney, 77)
Subs not used:- 32. Neto; 15. Kiwior; 20. Jorginho, 46. Kabia; 37. Butler-Oyedeji
Booked:- Havertz (foul on Dragusin), Lewis-Skelly (Time-wasting when substituted), Gabriel (foul on Solanke)
Spurs (4-3-3):- 31. Kinsky; 23. Pedro Porro, 6. Dragusin, 14. Gray, 24. Spence; 29. Sarr (sub 22. Johnson, 46), 8. Bissouma (sub 10. Maddison, 46), 15. Bergvall; 21. Kulusevski, 19. Solanke, 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 9. Richarlison, 78)
(Armband to Maddison)
Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 3. Reguilon, 79. Hardy; 47. Moore, 64. Olusesi; 42. Lankshear
Booked:- Sarr (delaying free kick)
Are you looking over your shoulder yet?
Thanks to Greg Smith for the picture
Whilst no Spurs fan in their right mind expected anything out of this game, the facts of the matter are depressing:-
1. We've managed just five points out of the last 27 available to us since beating Manchester City 4-0 away in November.
2. We've slipped down to 13th behind West Ham. This is likely to be 14th tonight when Manchester United surely beat Southampton at Old Trafford.
3. Arsenal have beaten us in 7 of our last 9 meetings and with this win climbed back to second place, 19 points ahead of us.
4. Spurs lost their eleventh Premier League game of the season. The previous times we did this in the Premier League era were bad seasons. (1997/8, 2003/4, 2008/9).
5. Arsenal have won three consecutive Premier League games against us for the first time. This was their fifth Premier League double over Spurs.
A large banner was spread opposite the main stand before kick-off stating, "North London is red." Sadly, that is so hard to deny, part from the fact that historically Arsenal belong south of the River Thames.
In my opinion, wins in our next two Premier League games at Goodison Park on Sunday and at home to Leicester the following week are vital, otherwise we will be getting dragged into the relegation dogfight.
Arsenal were missing Saka, Jesus and Calafiori. Raheem Sterling made only his third Premier League start for the club and his first since October. His shirt number (30) matches his age. Spurs made five changes from the team which played at Tamworth, with Kulusevski, Son and Solanke all starting. Richarlison was on the bench and ultimately came on to make his first appearance since early November.
Antonin Kinsky was making his Premier League debut and was looking for a third consecutive clean sheet. That hope proved to be forlorn, and Kinsky was nervous at times, as were his fellow defenders too often when trying to play out.
Thanks to Cassim Patel for this picture
Spurs kicked off and played away from their fans, out in force as usual. They were soon on the back foot and indeed struggled to get out of their own half for the first 20 minutes. Declan Rice had an early free kick cleared before Kinsky was out to clear from the feet of Sterling after a second play-out failure in only the third minute.
Arsenal are a big threat at corners, but the first one was too deep. You see their players conferring and signalling before every such move. Often their players would stand away from the Spurs defence, before taking up gaps between defenders by the time the kick was taken.
Kinsky was busy and pushed another free kick out for a corner. A Rice cross fell to Trossard, whose shot was blocked. Kinsky got away with poor play when closed down by Havertz. While Arsenal had been dominating, the Spurs keeper hadn't needed to make a save of note.
Spurs finally forged a real chance after 20 minutes. Djed Spence hit a beautiful cross from left of the box, off the outside of his right foot and Gabriel cleared from Solanke. From the corner, Dragusin headed down to Kulusevski, whose shot was blocked for another Spurs corner. Sarr also won a corner on the right after exchanging passes with Kulusevski.
Spurs even took the lead in the 25th minute after the ball fell to Son from the corner. His right-footed shot did take a deflection, leaving Raya wrong-footed and beaten inside his left post. It was Son's sixth league goal of the season and his ninth against Arsenal.
Trossard turned Pedro Porro inside out following which the Spurs right back stayed down for treatment, perhaps for shame. More pressure followed by the home side and after a corner taken on the left (which should have been a goal-kick), Gabriel dragged Dragusin beyond the back post (not literally) and his header went into the net off the unfortunate Solanke. Gabriel had scored the winner at Tottenham four months ago.
Spurs had a free kick at the other end, taken by Bergvall, but held by Raya. Arsenal had thee lead before half-time after Bissouma lost the ball near the half-way line. Arsenal advanced; Odegaard found Trossard towards the left and his low shot beat Kinsky to his left, although the keeper did get a hand to the ball. Havertz had a shot blocked in added time.
Postecoglou made two changes after the break with Johnson and Maddison on for Sarr and Bissouma, respectively. This was adventurous, and at times Spurs were in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Bergvall the leading protector for the defence. You might call it a gung-ho strategy. Ultimately it did not reap any reward, although if Spurs had played the first half in the way they approached the last quarter they might have got some reward.
A shot by Son went out of play off his own player - Solanke. Raya held a shot by Maddison after a Son ball from the left. Havertz headed over the bar following a corner. Havertz received a pass from Partey but headed into Kinsky's hands.
There were more play-out antics from Spurs. It drives me wild. Archie Gray cleared a Declan Rice cross and conceded a corner. At the other end, Kulusevski fed the ball to Maddison inside the Arsenal box, but James could not get the ball from under his feet. Solanke had half a chance, but Gabriel was on the case and blocked the shot.
Kinsky parried a powerful effort by Rice and then held Odegaard's follow-up. Martinelli had replaced Sterling and after yet another play-out fiasco, he had a shot blocked. Richarlison came on for Son after 78 minutes. Maddison took the captain's armband. Djed Spence went down in the box after Richarlison's pass, but there had been no foul. Richarlison was the provider again, this time for Solanke when Gabriel conceded a corner.
There was a tussle between Bergvall and Arsenal's 18-year-old left back Lewis-Skelly at the corner and referee Simon Hooper had words. He booked the Arsenal player when he was substituted for trying to take thee long way off the pitch.
Gabriel also saw yellow in added time when halting Solanke's advance at half-way. Richarlison hit a deep crossfield pass to Pedro Porro who crossed. Solanke tried an overhead kick, but this was fodder for Raya. Pedro Porro hit the outside of the near post with a shot/cross after Kulusevski's pass, and if it's any consolation, we were on the attack when thee final whistle was blown.
We have a goal difference 25 goals better than West Ham, who have two more points. It's points that count, and we need some - soon!
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. Spurs record in recent London Derby League matches
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
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