Spurs 2 Scum 1

[Justin]

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/spurs-are-new-cocks-of-north-as-agony-goes-on-for-arsenal-2364732.html

Spurs are new cocks of north as agony goes on for Arsenal
By Sam Wallace at White Hart Lane

Monday, 3 October 2011
There was a time when this result in the north London derby would have represented a seismic shift of balance in this part of the world, or failing that a massive fluke, but not any longer.

After a generation of being subordinate to their local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur under Harry Redknapp are liberating themselves from the yoke of Arsenal's dominance, to the extent that they no longer celebrate derby victories like some kind of independence day. Certainly, in the sunshine yesterday, they lapped up victory at White Hart Lane but it is becoming commonplace: this made it three wins and a draw for Spurs in their last four league meetings with Arsenal.

In the greatest years of Arsène Wenger's reign at Arsenal, Tottenham were an irrelevance to their rival's ambitions of league titles and Champions League football. As it stands today, Spurs are nine places ahead of them in the Premier League and have the kind of depth and experience in their squad that makes them credible challengers for a Champions League place. No one, not even Wenger, is quite sure what Arsenal's feasible targets are this season.

Before they had succumbed to Kyle Walker's winning goal yesterday, the Arsenal fans sang "What's it like on Channel Five?" to the home support, in recognition of Spurs' downgrading to the Europa League. Yet, by the end, even their former striker Alan Smith, a pundit on Sky Sports, had reluctantly proclaimed that he could not see how Arsenal could preserve their record of 15 consecutive seasons in the Champions League.

It is not as if Arsenal were in a desperate state and, at times in the first half and after Aaron Ramsey's equaliser on 52 minutes, they looked like a side who might just match Spurs. But, increasingly, it is Redknapp's team who have the experience and quality to carry them through the difficult times and see out difficult matches.

Wenger left White Hart Lane cursing Rafael van der Vaart's equaliser which he claimed was a handball but, even on the replays, that was by no means definitive. The Dutch striker controlled Emmanuel Adebayor's cross high on his chest near his shoulder to bring the ball down and score. Had he been booked for a deliberate handball it would have been his second yellow of the game.

The pain just keeps coming for Arsenal. The winner was a shot that Wojciech Szczesny should have saved but the ball dipped and swerved in front of him. Earlier, Bacary Sagna had fallen awkwardly after a challenge from Benoît Assou-Ekotto and turned his ankle. He was taken straight to hospital and Wenger proclaimed himself "very worried" about the prospect the right-back had broken his ankle.

The uncomfortable truth is that too many of Wenger's players simply did not exert enough influence on the game, starting with Robin van Persie and extending to the ineffectual Theo Walcott and Gervinho. Redknapp admitted his team found themselves out-numbered in midfield in the first half and that he toyed with the idea of changing it but his side came good eventually in a manner that just seems beyond Arsenal in these big games.

Redknapp owed much to Scott Parker, who bustled around in midfield, making the important tackles that held Arsenal at bay. In the first half, Walcott and then Gervinho missed chances, the second of which, from a cut back from Van Persie, was an atrocious effort that did not even hit the target. Wenger's team had opportunities and the way they are playing they can no longer afford to be so profligate.

Asked afterward whether he thought his team could still win the title, Wenger said it was now about "realistic targets". The problem for him is that old journalistic chestnut, the time when a manager is asked to effectively concede that the title race is run, is now coming earlier and earlier for him. It is only just October and already his team are 12 points behind the leaders. As for Spurs, that opening defeat to Manchester City feels like a distant memory as they rise to sixth place with fourth in their sights if they can win the game in hand.

Their first goal was a sweet, flowing move from Luka Modric to Van der Vaart, to Jermain Defoe and out to Adebayor before the ball was crossed back to Van der Vaart to score at the back post. Neither Sagna nor Per Mertesacker put in a credible challenge. The Dutch playmaker was less impressive when tasked with tracking Alex Song's run around the right flank of the Spurs' defence. His cross to the near post was steered past Brad Friedel by Ramsey and, for a while, it looked like Arsenal might hold on for a point. Szczesny made an excellent one-handed save from Adebayor when the striker went through on goal.

As it turned out, Redknapp brought Van der Vaart off for Sandro to lend greater strength to Spurs' midfield and they stepped up the pace again. Walker's winning goal was another attack that was not properly cleared, eventually falling to the young Englishman, who hit a powerful shot, pretty much straight at Szczesny. Somehow the Arsenal goalkeeper, despite getting his hands to the ball, failed to bring the shot under control and it was past him.

There was a later chance for Gareth Bale to score when Mertesacker allowed the ball to bounce in the area, but the winger put his chance wide of the post. By the end of the game there was a familiar despair etched on Wenger's face and his frustration seemed to be as much about his own team as it was about any perceived injustices.

His refusal to shake the hand of Spurs' coach Clive Allen at the end of the game, and his subsequent refusal to discuss the incident, was the kind of silly stand-off that tends to happen when teams and managers are under pressure. To be fair to Wenger, Allen often has rather a lot to say during games, a characteristic that used to rile Martin Jol when he was manager, never mind opposition benches.

At the moment, however, the Arsenal manager looks a haunted, hunted man. With Arsenal sitting 16th in the table with seven games played it is far from over, but even so it is difficult to know when the potential Wenger believes his team possesses will emerge.

Adebayor watch: how he fared against old club

Before kick-off

Adebayor looks happy and relaxed meeting his former team-mates, warmly greeting the Arsenal team in the pre-match handshake. Even old pal Robin van Persie, with whom he fell out very publicly.

5 minutes

Gallops down the right wing, beating Alex Song, but Adebayor is robbed in the penalty area by Francis Coquelin.

37 minutes

After a quiet half-hour, Adebayor finally gets on the ball, but loses out to Song on the right. Looking peripheral.

40 minutes

Adebayor sets up Spurs' opening goal: he chips a perfect cross to Rafael van der Vaart, peeling off at the far post, and the Dutchman controls well and volleys in.

53 minutes

With Arsenal now level, Adebayor storms through down the middle, but is left two yards offside by a successful Arsenal trap.

57 minutes

Played in by Van der Vaart, Adebayor is clean through on goal with ample time and space. He tries to shoot into the bottom corner, but Wojciech Szczesny brilliantly stops him with a sprawling save.

80 minutes

Adebayor wrestles Song off the ball in the box, but concedes a free-kick before shooting wide.

84 minutes

Harry Redknapp takes Adebayor off for young midfielder Jake Livermore. The Togo striker is warmly applauded.

Substitutes: Tottenham Sandro 6 (Van der Vaart, 63), Livermore (Adebayor, 84), Corluka (Parker, 90). Arsenal Jenkinson 5 (Sagna, 68), Benayoun 5 (Walcott, 72), Arshavin (Gervinho, 77). Booked: Tottenham Van der Vaart, Parker. Arsenal Mertesacker. Man of the match Bale.

Match rating 7/10.

Possession: Tottenham 49% Arsenal 51%.

Attempts on target: Tottenham 8 Arsenal 7.

Referee M Dean (Wirral).

Attendance 36,274.

[Justin]

www.spursodyssey.com/1112/ar021011.html

Walkers¡¯ crisp shot gives Spurs ascendancy

Kyle Walker scored a simply sensational 30 yard goal in the 73rd minute to seal this result for Spurs. It was Walker¡¯s first league goal for Spurs, and one he will be able to dine out on for the rest of his life, as it was such a cracking winner. Walker has started 8 of Spurs 11 games so far this season, and is the only member of the first team squad not to be automatically rested in Europa League and Cup games to date. The 21 year old has established himself as first choice right back and won himself a regular place in the England squad.

Walker¡¯s goal and performance was not the only eye-catching game from a Spurs player today. My man of the match was Scott Parker, who in my view did not put a foot wrong, and was simply masterful and dynamic, both when shielding the defence, but also when moving forward. Parker too has become a regular in Fabio Capello¡¯s England squad. The former West Ham midfielder deserved his ovation, when replaced by Corluka as the match went into added time.

Spurs went into this game as favourites, but Arsenal put up a better show than most of us perhaps expected, despite the number of absentees through injury. They played an attacking game, with Aaron Ramsey playing ahead of Arteta and Coquelin in midfield, supporting Walcott, Gervinho and Van Persie up front. Harry Redknapp clearly had a selection dilemma, and whilst some of us thought that he would make a choice of Van der Vaart or Defoe with Adebayor, the Spurs manager played both, which left Sandro on the bench. Van der Vaart had put Spurs in the lead at the right time before the interval, but he was running out of stamina, and also a degree of desire to help out with the defending. Sandro was a much-needed substitute, and had a great game.

Bale was being kept pretty much in check by Sagna, but when the Arsenal right back was stretchered off injured (after a fair challenge by Benoit Assou-Ekotto), Bale played a far more prominent part in the game, and whilst Arsenal were always looking for opportunities to score, Spurs might well have had another two or three goals, with Szczesny having to make some decent saves.

The game was played in baking October sunshine, with the crowd dressed for July. The Arsenal fans displayed a flag congratulating Spurs on their ¡°Golden Jubilee¡± since their last league title. I couldn¡¯t read the small print but no doubt it made mention of a few titles that have been won down the road in the intervening years. Mind you, there¡¯s been nothing put in their trophy cabinet for 7 years now, has there!

Adebayor was the target for some ritual abuse, which has been strongly criticised by Harry Redknapp. I don¡¯t think it affected him adversely, and let¡¯s face it, Spurs fans have been guilty of some nasty abuse towards him in the past. Anyway, Adebayor was not shy of playing in front of the visitors section in the Park Lane end, and for some reason was often to be found out on that right flank, when he might have been of more use in the middle. Mind you, he did get his assist from a position towards the right.

It was a poor ball inside by Ramsey that gave Spurs their first attack. The ball was received by Adebayor and he sent Modric away down the left flank, but he was flagged offside. Walker won a corner after three minutes, and Van der Vaart took this and the following corner kick. After the second, Rafa sent over a cross which was met by the head of Defoe, but went over the target. Scott Parker had a great chance after 6 minutes, but Szczesny made the save to concede a corner. Parker had been set up because a good release by Brad Friedel to Adebayor who left Song in his wake as he advanced down the right.

Referee Mike Dean had ¡°words¡± with Walker over an early challenge on an Arsenal defender. When Walker advanced, Parker was covering heroically for the right back. Such actions are not really within the scope of Van der Vaart. Bale was seeking to help Ekotto at the back, but too often seemed to allow too much space to the advance of the red shirts. Indeed the Spurs defence as a whole was sometimes prone to leave relatively large areas of space outside an imaginary semi-circle outside the Spurs box. Sagna took advantage of such space after 15 minutes, and his ball into the middle fell for Walcott, who fired over.

Bale picked up a loose ball in the middle and went on a run down the left flank, crossing low. Parker had made a lung-bursting run and met the cross, but fired over. Kaboul fouled Van Persie just outside the Spurs box, and Arteta¡¯s free kick passed over the goal. Arsenal¡¯s best chance came after 28 minutes, when Van Persie got goal side of Kaboul down the left flank, took the ball to the bye-line, then cut it back for Gervinho, who should have scored, but fired wide of Friedel¡¯s right post.

Mertesacker got a deserved card for bringing a Defoe advance to an unfair halt, but Van der Vaart¡¯s free kick was blocked. Walcott had another chance, which he spurned across the goalmouth. Spurs took the lead at the right time, with five minutes left of the first half. The build up had incorporated some great passing from Defoe and Modric, before Adebayor hit a cross deep from the right channel. Van der Vaart seemed to be allowed an age to set himself up before firing into the net across Szczesny¡¯s left hand. Arsenal were appealing for handball by Van der Vaart, but this was ignored by the referee. Bale also had a curling shot pass just wide, and at the other end, Friedel did well to hold a deflected shot by Ramsey.

Three minutes after the break, Spurs won a cheap corner from which Van der Vaart set up Modric. However, Luka scuffed his shot. Another Bale effort from the left passed just over the bar. Arsenal put Spurs under brief pressure and got a goal back when Song took the ball to the left bye-line, and crossed for Ramsey to make a close-range finish. Defoe, Van der Vaart and Bale were involved in a move which ended with a great chance for Adebayor, whose shot was deflected out for a corner. Van der Vaart was soon to be replaced by Sandro, to add some steel to the Spurs defensive positions.

Kaboul made a great run with the ball out of defence and had a wall pass with Adebayor, before carrying on and hitting a shot which won Spurs a corner. After some good defending by Sandro in front of the area, Spurs got forward through Bale and Ekotto, whose cross was too good for his strikers. The pass came behind the Arsenal defence, but Ekotto¡¯s team-mates had failed to read the play on this occasion.

Walker¡¯s golden wonder goal (enough crisp puns yet?) came in the 73rd minute. Spurs had an attacking throw, received by Sandro who threaded the ball to Ekotto. Ekotto passed inside where Modric tried a shot but was blocked. The ball ran out to a point about 30 yards out, and Walker had seen the chance and decided the ball and shot was his! Kyle hit a cracking shot which beat Szczesny, when perhaps he should not have been deceived, but Spurs fans didn¡¯t care; they were in spasms of ecstasy! Kyle Walker was instantly awarded legend status in the same way that Danny Rose won the accolade 18 months ago.

There was plenty of work still to be done for Spurs to hold onto the lead, but in fairness there were times when that lead could have been increased. A long clearance reached Bale who made a landmark run down the left, before hitting a shot just outside the post. Szczesny made a great save diving to his left to push out a Defoe shot for a corner, after another Bale cross. Modric took the corner and Sandro headed over. Bale received another long ball, and Defoe had made a good run to collect the pass. Jake Livermore had replaced Adebayor, and was close to Defoe, trying a shot which went wide. Modric collected a Bale throw and hit a shot into the side netting.

We had to endure five minutes of added time, but endure it we did, and of course we had the reward of unabated joy at the final whistle. That¡¯s four consecutive league appearances by Ledley King; four consecutive league wins by Harry Redknapp¡¯s Spurs; sixth place for Spurs, and erm ¨C 15th place for Arsenal, who have lost 4 out of 7 games. Arsenal are on 7 points, 5 behind Spurs, who have a game in hand. Walker¡¯s crisp shot has given Spurs the ascendancy in North London!

[Justin]

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8799039/Tottenham-Hotspur-2-Arsenal-1-match-report.html

Mother Nature really has been at the sherry: a heatwave in October and a cockerel crowing at dusk. As the sweat dripped from Spur and Arsenal players during a game long on endeavour if largely short on skill, the natural order of north London life was turned upside down.

The Premier League table will make particularly painful viewing for Arsenal on Monday; at 15th, they are the lowest placed of the capital’s clubs, two points off the relegation positions and 12 points behind the leaders. Arsenal are so far back, it is like finding Joan Collins in economy.

It encapsulated the desperation flooding through Arsenal that the purists’ club ended playing long ball towards Per Mertesacker, their German centre-half pushed into attack. Mertesacker is no Thomas Müller, let alone Gerd. Injuries have badly depleted Arsène Wenger’s squad but enough talent surely remained. Sadly for Arsenal, the likes of Theo Walcott and Gervinho failed to rise to the derby occasion.

Andrei Arshavin, unfortunately for his admirers, continued his 'tourist in London’ routine.

The few visitors to emerge with any credit were Wojciech Szczesny, even with one howler, Alex Song, who again deputised in defence while being badly missed in midfield, and the promising French Under-20 international Francis Coquelin. Arsenal need more belief now as well as more high-class recruits in January.

Harry Redknapp’s three summer signings all impressed: Brad Friedel was a calm presence in goal, Scott Parker was tireless in midfield while Emmanuel Adebayor chased every ball in attack. Elsewhere Gareth Bale came alive when poor Bacary Sagna was carted away to hospital, his ankle feared broken.

This was the derby that allowed Spurs fans to scream they are now north London’s top team. This was also the derby that saw fans scream all manner of abuse. Arsenal fans mocked the hosts with “61, never again”, goading about Spurs’

title-free half-century. Supporters traded suggestions about each other relocating to Stratford or Woolwich. And these were the polite songs.

Adebayor had to endure Arsenal invective about his nearly being shot in Angola. Spurs fans aired their dirty ditty about Wenger. Even the Spurs-supporting Only Fools and Horses actor Roger Lloyd-Pack, interviewed on the pitch at half-time, received a toxic serenade.

“Trigger, Trigger, you’re a ----” came the reception from the away end. It was enough to make Del Boy fall through an open hatch.

Accompanying the noxious noises off was another local passion play, another intense encounter largely devoid of bad challenges. Only when the South Stand net required emergency stitching, delaying the second half, could it be called a needle match. Only when Wenger refused to shake Clive Allen’s hand did the rivalry between the football staffs spill over. Maybe Wenger simply had a keen sense of history and remembered the last time an Arsenal manager shook hands with Allen, the striker promptly disappeared to Crystal Palace.

As at the final whistle, Wenger had hardly ended the first half in a good mood. He was enraged by a belief that Rafael van der Vaart’s goal, the 10,000th in Spurs’ history, was aided by a hand-ball.

Whatever the legitimacy of his argument, and a series of replays still could not provide proof, Wenger needed to look also at his midfield and defence.

Jermain Defoe was allowed to turn and dart through the middle before slipping the ball right to Adebayor. Arsenal’s old striker calmly chipped the ball across to Van der Vaart, who controlled the ball with his chest, possibly his upper arm, before sending it left-footed past Szczesny. Sagna and Mertesacker resembled policemen arriving too late to apprehend him.

Wenger bemoaned the goal, his frustration intensified by the reality that Arsenal had done well until then. They had their chances, Aaron

Ramsey’s flicked header being cleared by Luka Modric. Robin van Persie glided in from the left, eluding Younes Kaboul before rolling the ball back to Gervinho, who fired wide. Not for the last time, Kyle Walker screamed at Van der Vaart to cover back.

Arsenal looked good, far more confident than recently, and helped by their extra man in the centre, Coquelin supporting Mikel Arteta and Ramsey. Parker accepted the challenge posed by the opposition, working overtime, one moment bustling into the box and testing Szczesny and the next muscling the ball away from Gervinho.

Even when Arsenal attempted to rally after Van der Vaart’s goal, Parker ensured Spurs reached the break ahead. Wenger’s side demonstrated some resilience after the interval, exploiting further evidence that Van der Vaart was placed on this earth to do many things but tracking back was not one of them. When Kaboul’s headed clearance fell to Song on Arsenal’s left, Van der Vaart’s attempt to keep pace with Song was a token effort. Song crossed low and hard and there was Ramsey, adjusting his body well to sweep Arsenal level.

The old Arsenal of the Invincibles or the Tony Adams era would have built on this, would have hunted a winner. Yet there is a brittleness to this Arsenal side. Spurs just went again, went for the jugular again. Adebayor should have beaten

Szczesny. Bale found his stride when Sagna departed on a stretcher, having fallen awkwardly when contesting an aerial ball with Benoît Assou-Ekotto. As Sagna tumbled into the hoardings, Spurs fans leaned over to taunt the stricken full-back.

Carl Jenkinson arrived and was immediately given a chasing by Bale.

Redknapp also made changes, sending on Sandro, who set up Walker. The full-back came steaming in, catching the ball flush and sending it speeding at Szczesny. The ball deviated in the air but what cost the Pole was his starting position, the keeper too rooted to the line, allowing Walker’s drive to fly past him. It was all over bar the cockerel crowing

[Justin]

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2044368/Tottenham-2-Arsenal-1-Kyle-Walker-winner.html

Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1: Walker strikes to settle north London derby and pile misery on Wenger By Matt Lawton

Last updated at 11:33 PM on 2nd October 2011

Beyond the vile chants, the furious exchange moments after the final whistle and what did look like a rather dubious opening goal, the right team emerged as the winners of a thoroughly entertaining north London derby.

Arsene Wenger has every right to feel aggrieved, and not just because he was subjected to abuse from supporters on a similar intellectual plane to those who targeted Emmanuel Adebayor.

He had a right to complain because Rafael van der Vaart appeared to use his left arm to control Adebayor's ball a split second before scoring the opening goal and the Dutchman might have then received a second booking for the offence or for then celebrating with fans.

As Jack Wilshere protested on his Twitter page, Van der Vaart had already picked up one yellow card for a reckless challenge on Kieran Gibbs.

But when Wenger reflects on this breathless encounter between two teams seemingly unaffected by the freakish October temperatures, the Arsenal manager will still have to concede that Tottenham were superior; that they deserved a win that came thanks to Kyle Walker's marvellous second half strike.

Crucially Tottenham excelled in areas where Arsenal too often struggled, combining great determination and a degree of ambition the visitors simply lacked.

Defensively Tottenham were excellent, Arsenal only scoring when it suddenly fell upon Van der Vaart to track back.

Because he was too lazy to go with an advancing Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey levelled with relative ease.

But other Spurs players battled courageously. Scott Parker was immense, so strong in that more defensive midfield role he is sure to have impressed a watching England manager Fabio Capello as much as he must have left Wenger wondering if he should have moved for him when he had the chance.

From Gareth Bale, too, there was class as well as commitment, and a turn of pace that even proved too much for the fresh legs of Carl Jenkinson.

Tottenham's back four were also excellent, providing the kind of protection that Wojciech Szczesny only wishes he had. Not that their more attacking colleagues were any less deserving of praise.

Adebayor's moment and touch was superb even if the killer finish deserted him, and from Van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe there were some memorable moments.

And yet there were periods of this contest when Arsenal dominated, their five man midfield at times very much in control. They were unlucky to concede that 40th minute opening goal and worthy of their equaliser when Ramsey then replied after the break.

This, however, remains a vulnerable Arsenal team. In fairness they have so few fit defenders Wenger had to again deploy Song at centre half and Francis Coquelin as his holding midfielder when the presence of Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere would have made a huge difference.

But one that also suffers due to Per Mertesacker's lack of mobility and the fact that Szczesny remains error prone.

He did so many good things but was at fault for Walker's winner. The bookies were right to back Spurs as favourites because right now, as Alan Smith says, they do have the better team. Smith also predicts a difficult season ahead for his former club and he's right to believe that too.

They might have come into this game on the back of three wins in all competitions but seven points from seven Barclays Premier League games tells its own story.

The way he organised his team suggested Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was feeling confident and a delightful ball from Van der Vaart presented Parker with an early chance but the midfielder shot straight at Szczesny.

Prior to that first goal, though, the best chance fell to Gervinho. Robin van Persie shrugged off Younes Kaboul but Gervinho dragged his shot wide when he really should have scored.

Wenger cursed in frustration, but nothing like as much as he did when Van der Vaart then scored. It was a brilliant ball from Adebayor and an excellent finish, but it owed much to a left arm and some poor, poor defending from Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna.

To Arsenal's credit, they delivered quite a riposte. There was more urgency after the break; more intent. When Song accelerated clear of an indolent Van der Vaart in the 50th minute, he delivered a cross that Ramsey met with an unstoppable first-time finish.

Had it not been for Szczesny, Adebayor might have scored Tottenham's second against his former club. As it was the Arsenal goalkeeper produced an outstanding one-handed save after the striker had been sent clear by Van der Vaart.
The loss of Sagna to a broken right leg weakened Arsenal further, but that did not excuse their failure to close down Walker in the 73rd minute when Song had just blocked a shot from Luka Modric.

Or Szczesny's failure to deal with a 25-yard shot that, while hit with real venom, was at a good height for a goalkeeper. Wenger did acknowledge his side's failure to build on their equaliser. Rather than grow in confidence, it seemed to drain from them.

Bale might have scored, ditto Defoe, with Spurs at the same time protecting their advantage in a manner epitomised by Parker's fine tackle on Mikel Arteta.

Wenger's disappointment was almost tangible. He barked at a ball-boy in an attempt to hurry him in the dying seconds and then had that exchange with Clive Allen.

In fairness to Wenger, he had already shaken the hand of Redknapp; right now the boss of the stronger north London team.

[Justin]

www.football365.com/f365-says/7218749/Rather-More-Than-16-Derby-Conclusions...

* Sometimes the media decides that football needs a clearly defined story arc and this week's designated story arc was that Tottenham now have the far superior squad to Arsenal. All week, journalists and pundits have been lining up to tell us just how few Gunners' players would make it into Tottenham's current side. Armed with a collective love of Harry Redknapp and Scott Parker, and desperate for Emmanuel Adebayor to be the leading man, we were told that Arsenal were going to be humiliated. The bookies agreed and made Arsenal a tempting 3/1 to triumph.

* The line-up suggested that Redknapp may have believed the hype because he sacrificed Sandro to bring in Jermain Defoe. That looked a very risky strategy with Defoe's record against Arsenal poor (his last goal came seven years ago), Rafael van der Vaart historically failing to work hard enough on the right and the sheer mathematics of playing two central midfielders against Arsenal's three. The scoreline suggested he got away with his over-confidence but with Arsenal in the ascendance at 1-1, it looked like a costly mistake.

* As for Arsenal's team selection - eyebrows were raised at the inclusion of Francis Coquelin ahead of Emmanuel Frimpong but it proved to be the right decision as Coquelin was perhaps the Gunners' most impressive performer. He kept Luka Modric very quiet without resorting to the 'haring around' beloved of Frimpong. It might make him popular with the fans, but Coquelin's more understated performance promises far more for the future.

* On seeing the line-ups, one national newspaper journalist tweeted that a combined XI would feature only four Arsenal players. That he included Per Mertesacker and not Wojciech Szcz¨ºsny looked ridiculous as the Pole made several key saves while the German once again flustered and floundered. If Mertesacker is to be a first-choice centre-half at Arsenal, they need to re-think their 'high line' policy. Maybe just do what John Terry does and defend on the edge of the penalty area.

* It is a massive shame that Szcz¨ºsny has to shoulder some of the blame for Tottenham's winner. Kyle Walker's effort swerved but we now have high standards of the Pole and he should have done so much better. And when we say 'he should have done so much better', we mean he should have saved it.

* A draw would probably have been a fair result. It was a terrifically entertaining game in which the strengths and weaknesses of both sides were given equal exposure. Has there been a switch in the balance of power? Come back in May for an answern because there were no definitive answers at White Hart Lane.

* For all the talk of Robin van Persie v Emmanuel Adebayor in the build-up, the Dutchman was kept very quiet by Ledley King. That Spurs have won their last eight Premier League games with King in the starting line-up is an impressive and telling stat. How the watching Fabio Capello must wish that King had the fitness to match his finesse.

* After an initial opening six minutes in which Scott Parker should have scored when one-on-one with Szczesny, Arsenal looked the more comfortable side. That they failed to produce more than a handful of chances in that dominant spell should be more worrying to Arsenal fans than the predictable brain farts at the back.

* Gervinho should have scored. Simple as that. Van Persie for once escaped the clutches of the Tottenham defence and set him up for a chance he could not miss. Except he did. It doesn't take long for new Arsenal players to develop Arsenal-like habits.

* Talking of brain farts, the Arsenal defence utterly failed to heed the warning of just a few minutes before when Van der Vaart had drifted unmarked into a central position to test Szczesny. That was always where he was going to hurt Arsenal and yet nobody followed him there.

* For the goal, he took advantage of the yawning gap between centre-half (Mertesacker) and right-back (Sagna). Does anybody talk in the Arsenal defence? Why was there seemingly no discussion about who would pick up the Dutchman when he inevitably popped up in the middle? It's not like he has a history of scoring against Arsenal, is it? Oh.

* Was it handball? If it takes you 10-15 replays to decide, don't expect the officials to make that decision at full speed. It was marginal and as such, Arsenal fans should be quicker to question their defence than the referee.

* You want him sent off for then celebrating near the crowd after scoring the opening goal in a derby? Behave.

* The best of the Dutchman was followed by the worst for Arsenal's equaliser - demonstrating exactly why he should not play in a four-man midfield against decent opposition. He made zero effort to stop a centre-half from surging down the left wing and putting in a cross that Aaron Ramsey converted from close range. Redknapp stood with his arms outstretched, asking how this could possibly have been allowed to happen. You put him there, Harry. After the match he admitted that he almost made the change and brought on Sandro before half-time - tacitly acknowledging that he had made an initial mistake. What's that saying about lucky generals again?

* Barring the goal, Ramsey was disappointing. This was supposed to be his breakthrough season after the exits of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and then the injury to Jack Wilshere, but he was as wasteful against Tottenham as he has been all season. Wilshere cannot return quick enough for Arsenal.

* After Arsenal made it 1-1, they looked far more likely to go on and claim the winner. What happened? Redknapp finally made the change and brought on Sandro to shore up the Tottenham midfield, while Sagna was forced off to give Gareth Bale 25 minutes to run at Carl Jenkinson.

* But the Gunners should still have been good enough to claim a point as the two teams were evenly matched. That they didn't was down to a rare mistake from Szcz¨ºsny, coupled with the usual sluggishness in closing down and a willingness from Walker and Tottenham as a whole to 'have a go'. Would an Arsenal full-back have tried that piledriver? Unlikely. As he said after the game, you "have to buy a lottery ticket".

* Much will be made of Arsenal being five points behind a Tottenham side with a game in hand. Are they that much worse than Spurs? By that logic, they are also worse than Norwich and Swansea. Sometimes the table does lie.

Sarah Winterburn

[Justin]

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/02/tottenham-hotspur-arsenal-premier-league

Kyle Walker's goal gives Spurs victory over Arsenal in frantic derby

In normal circumstances victors will be affronted if the losers get all the attention. That, however, is just one aspect of derby fixtures that differs from normal life in football. Much as the home support will prize a victory over Arsenal, which came thanks to Kyle Walker's first goal for the club, they will also revel in schadenfreude since the attempt should have been saved by the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Tottenham are five points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League with a game in the hand. That lead may not count for much in the longer term but this result reinforced the belief that brittleness is even more conspicuous than usual at Arsenal. Ars¨¨ne Wenger's team have been beaten before on this derby occasion but each defeat this season feels significant and ominous.

While resilience may have been lacking, Arsenal could be befuddled nowadays by that fact that it is other teams who pose the threat. It is not very long ago that Wenger's side would have days when they would demoralise opponents as much as they defeated them. One of the punishments for mediocrity is the fact that the club still cannot escape the thought of missing talent now that Samir Nasri and Cesc F¨¢bregas are gone.

It was noted that Wenger did not shake hands with the Tottenham assistant coach Clive Allen at full time but that missing piece of protocol does not matter in the least when followers of the club wonder when the side will take a grip of events. Arsenal have been beaten in four of their seven Premier League fixtures. All the same, it would be wrong to dwell on the losers when there was so much to be appreciated in the victors.

This win should be remembered most of all for the promise it held for Spurs. They were superior in all areas and the authority will be all the more marked if Ledley King, a great influence from his post at centre-back, can fulfil his ambition of appearing more regularly despite the knee problems that have threatened to be the context for his entire career. Even so, Scott Parker, in his defensive midfield role, may have been the most important factor in the outcome.

White Hart Lane is inflamed by the thought of new beginnings. Tottenham were not merely bold. They had a belligerence that suggested they were in a hurry to emphasis their intention of replacing Arsenal as the leading club in north London.

Emmanuel Adebayor, a forward on the books of the visitors as recently as two years ago, had the air of a footballer determined to show that his loan move from Manchester City to Tottenham was not a backward step.

He certainly made an impression here by chipping the ball to Rafael van der Vaart, who controlled it with his chest before shooting home as Spurs took the lead in the 40th minute.

Some in the Arsenal ranks believed that the arm of the Dutchman had also been involved but the referee, Mike Dean, saw no offence. Adebayor had given a riposte to the chants directed at him by Tottenham supporters.

The match was entertaining rather than merely antagonistic. Openings were found by both sides, although the frantic tone ensured for a while that there would nearly always be some small flaw. A ball from Gareth Bale after 19 minutes was fractionally misdirected and therefore Van der Vaart could not quite get his shot on target.

Arsenal may have been far from cowed but they were inclined to be wasteful either by misdirecting their chances or making it too simple for Brad Friedel to keep a clean sheet in the first half. Gervinho tried to trick him by aiming for the small space at the near post in the 29th minute and missed the posts entirely.

The second half opened with Arsenal playing in a more concerted manner and Spurs could not contain them. Youn¨¨s Kaboul sent a clearing header to the opposition's left flank and Kieran Gibbs's low cross was then turned home by Aaron Ramsey for the equaliser in the 51st minute. The occasion still contained the instability of a derby fixture, though, and Tottenham would have regained the lead sooner had Szczesny not tipped Adebayor's shot behind following a through ball from Van der Vart.

The insistence of Harry Redknapp's side was rewarded when the long-range effort by Walker eluded Szczesny. Spurs had enough control and organisation to hold tight to their lead. It does feel as if they are a club in the throes of change. That brings troubles of its own as opponents start to respond by taking a deeper interest in them than before. It has to be borne in mind, too, that the imperfections are sufficiently marked to leave them with a 5-1 beating by Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini's club do have means that appear almost limitless, yet Tottenham have to set their minds to competing with such opponents. That will invite stress of its own and Redknapp will be busy trying to shrink expectations. He cannot succeed entirely, though, when the White Hart Lane crowd is awash with anticipation.

also read:

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/02/emmanuel-adebayor-arsenal
Emmanuel Adebayor's floated pass rises above abuse from Arsenal fans

www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/oct/02/arsene-wenger-arsenal-tottenham
Much for Ars¨¨ne Wenger to be happy about despite Arsenal's defeat

[Justin]

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3848958/Tottenham-2-Arsenal-1.html

ARSENE WENGER was in no mood for a celebration cake to mark his 15 years in charge at Arsenal.

Frankly, the Gunners cannot hold a candle to Tottenham these days and are no longer the dominant North London force.

The shift in the power base is such that Harry Redknapp's side were favourites to win this and fully justified the bookies' odds.

Had they been sharper in front of goal, they would have been home and dry long before they came under pressure in a frantic last five minutes.

The game was settled thanks to a stunning strike from young full-back Kyle Walker 17 minutes from time, which the otherwise faultless Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny allowed to go through his hands.

Yet it was a deserved winner.

Gareth Bale was electric down the flank for Spurs, Scott Parker broke everything up in central midfield to prevent Mikel Arteta doing any damage and Emmanuel Adebayor was a beast to deal with against his old club.

Wenger had appealed for Gunners fans not to chant abuse at old boy Adebayor. But they took no notice and surpassed themselves with a disgusting song about how they wished he had been shot when the Togo team bus was attacked in Angola last year.

Nor could Spurs supporters take the moral high ground, with their foul chants against Wenger and loud cheering when Bacary Sagna crashed into the advertising boards in a challenge with Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

The Frenchman was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle. Is there no end to how low fans will sink? This is a cancer permeating the whole country.

While the Gunners had plenty of possession, they did not make enough happen in the opposition box.

Arteta looks pretty on the ball in central midfield but he is no Cesc Fabregas. And neither Theo Walcott nor Gervinho are hurting defenders nearly as much as they should.

At the back, it was the usual story.

There were way too many holes and beanpole Per Mertesacker looked a nervous wreck when crosses came into the penalty area.

On one occasion he stood motionless and watched as the ball popped up for Bale, who should have put away a left-foot chance.

Parker ought to have scored early on, too, when one-on-one with Szczesny, while Adebayor was denied by the keeper in the second half.

There was also a superb flying save from the Polish international to keep out Jermain Defoe.

Goodness knows how many Arsenal would have shipped by now if it was not for the man between the sticks. They have already conceded 14 in seven Premier League matches.

The visitors had won their previous three games but had not convinced it was any sort of new dawn.

There was still a lot of nervousness about, though Walcott brought a fingertip save out of Brad Friedel as Arsenal almost went ahead.

Tottenham were actually lucky to keep 11 men on the field, as Rafael van der Vaart went ploughing into Kieran Gibbs and escaped with a yellow card.

Szczesny blocked Van der Vaart's flick at the near post before Robin van Persie skinned defender Younes Kaboul and cut the ball back only for Gervinho to scuff a golden chance wide.

Then, on 40 minutes, Van der Vaart started the move which led to the opener.

When the cross came in from Adebayor, the Dutchman brought the ball down and fired left-footed across Szczesny.

There was a suspicion of handball and, not surprisingly, Wenger saw it clearly.

Had referee Mike Dean agreed, Van der Vaart might have been sent off.

He could also have gone for over- celebrating with the crowd once the goal was given.

Bale went close with a 35-yard swerver before Arsenal equalised after 51 minutes through Aaron Ramsey.

Alex Song got to the byline far too easily, without any challenge from Van der Vaart, and Ramsey struck at the near post.

Yet Arsenal seemed to try and hold on to what they had and Adebayor should have finished off Bale's pass only for Szczesny to block.

Walker, 21, then produced his fizzer, which caught out Szczesny, and no doubt impressed watching England boss Fabio Capello in the process.

Bale went on to miss after Mertesacker dithered and Defoe, looking much sharper again, was foiled by Szczesny's dive to his left.

With the clock ticking down, Szczesny moved up to join the attack as Arsenal suddenly won a succession of corners. But he could not manage to get on the end of one.

So Spurs took the points and, while Wenger shook hands with Harry Redknapp and Kevin Bond at the final whistle, he refused any handshake with another Spurs coach, Clive Allen.

Allen, a feisty character, gave Wenger a few verbals and had to be held back.

But there is no holding back Spurs at the moment.

After a horrible start to the season, during which they lost 5-1 at Manchester City and 3-0 to Manchester United, they are now emerging as real contenders for a Champions League qualifying place.

Arsenal do not look anywhere near it.



DREAM TEAM

STAR MAN - GARETH BALE (Spurs)

TOTTENHAM: Friedel 6, Walker 7, Kaboul 6, King 6, Assou-Ekotto 6, Van der Vaart 6 (Sandro 6), Parker 7 (Corluka 5), Modric 5, Bale 8, Adebayor 7 (Livermore 5), Defoe 7. Subs not used: Cudicini, Giovani, Pavlyuchenko, Bassong. Booked: Van der Vaart, Parker.

ARSENAL: Szczesny 6, Sagna 6 (Jenkinson 5), Mertesacker 5, Song 6, Gibbs 6, Ramsey 7, Arteta 5, Coquelin 6, Walcott 5 (Benayoun 5), Van Persie 6, Gervinho 5 (Arshavin 5). Subs not used: Fabianski, Park, Andre Santos, Frimpong. Booked: Mertesacker.

REF: M Dean 7

[Justin]

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-the-defence-that-cant-defend-ruins-wengers-homespun-strategy-2364731.html

The defence that can't defend ruins Wenger's home-spun strategy

There were some beautiful moments when Arsenal again looked like Arsenal, passages of fluency of craft and always the sense that something fine and creative might happen. Unfortunately there were also some extremely ugly moments and these too were the responsibility of Arsenal.

They explained, as if we had not long passed the need for any fresh evidence, why Arsène Wenger's team are now so detached from the serious end of the Premier League action.

It is not that Arsenal defend poorly. It is as if they simply do not understand the concept.

Wenger complained that Rafael van der Vaart handled the ball on his way to scoring Tottenham's exquisite opener – a claim that was more predictable than unanswerable – but you would have thought he might have been rather more outraged that the Dutchman had vast space in which to convert the short cross of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Arsenal enjoyed more possession and when Gervinho had one of the game's best scoring possibilities it seemed feasible that this might be the moment when a season programmed for disaster felt the breath of a little hope. But what is hope in football if you have a defence that lurches from one crisis to another and when, in the end, your best hope of survival, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, is worn down to the point where he allows the decisive strike of Spurs' impressive young defender Kyle Walker to fly home from distance?

It was a superb effort by a young player who could hardly have done more to press his England claims under the gaze of Fabio Capello but it was a bleak conclusion to a fine performance by a goalkeeper who is obliged to awake from one nightmare of pressure after another.

Whatever Arsenal achieve in the absence of Jack Wilshere, the young player whose value seems to increase a little more with every game he misses through the sickening onset of long-term injury, it will be hard not to see it as something of a holding operation.

Arsenal signed the currently underwhelming German veteran Per Mertesacker in their desperate rush into a closing transfer window but the reality is that they have to do a whole lot better come January. Thomas Vermaelen is missed desperately but with midfielder Alex Song operating beside Mertesacker the need for major moves into the market could scarcely have been more pressing.

Wenger is defiant in his belief in the cultivation of home-grown excellence but an old preference is now looking like something of a flight of fancy, one that has already condemned Arsenal to a season in which for the first time under their manager they have to think nearly as much about survival as some unlikely reclaiming of their old place in the top four.

In defence, where Spurs looked superior, there is the most desperate need. It is of savvy, of instinct, something that can only be established in the heat of competition.

Spurs looked a long way from the fluency which launched them on their current run of four straight league wins and Van der Vaart's early departure, the result of his failure to reproduce often enough the relevance of his intuitive move into a scoring position, was especially disappointing.

But always they had the greater potential to take hold of the game and when Walker, who announced his sound belief that you will never win a lottery if you don't buy a ticket, drove home the winner Arsenal could hardly register a serious complaint.

Better for them to understand they will be playing entirely on chance and speculation until they attend to the enemy within. It is of course the defence which really doesn't know how to defend.

[Justin]

www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tottenham-2-1-Arsenal-Rare-Wojciech-Szczesny-howler-gives-Spurs-win-article807496.html

Not top dogs in London yet, not while Chelsea have something to say about it.

But in the northern quarter, there is no doubt who has the bragging rights now.

No doubt which team has momentum, quality, a belief in themselves that has seeped away from those wearing red and white.

And what was once a gaping, seemingly unbridgeable chasm between these two sides just a few years ago has not only been crossed, but turned on its head.

Last night, as right-back Kyle Walker¡¯s thunderbolt proved the statistical difference for Spurs, a stunning strike that dipped and swerved past the otherwise outstanding Wojciech Szczesny, the reality seemed far, far greater than that. The Spurs fans who walked out on to the Tottenham High Road with a spring in their step that will keep them going throughout the international break did not need to be told that the balance of power has shifted.

Three wins and a draw from their last four league meetings. Five points clear of the Gunners with a game in hand.

Now, barely a month after Tottenham looked a total mess against Manchester City, a serious threat to any rival.

Yes, Arsenal had been the better side in the opening period, could consider themselves unfortunate to be trailing to Rafael van der Vaart¡¯s contentious opener, dragged themselves back on terms soon after the restart. Yet the longer it went on, the stronger Spurs looked. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must start questioning himself now after watching Scott Parker be everywhere for Spurs, breaking up an attack at one end, linking in the middle, popping up in the other box.

And where the Gunners could not match Parker¡¯s effervescence, all the more so after Sandro came on to beef up the midfield firepower, the England midfielder was not the only one who won his personal battles.

At the back, Ledley King and Younes Kaboul barely gave Robin van Persie a kick between them which made Per Mertesacker¡¯s vulnerabilities look all the more apparent. Walker foraged down the right flank, Gareth Bale (inset) owned the other wing, terrorising and terrifying first Bacary Sagna and then his replacement Carl Jenkinson, Jermain Defoe turned 40-60 balls forward into 60-40s in his favour.

Arsenal offered commitment, certainly.

At times Theo Walcott and Gervinho looked to be linking up effectively, while Emmanuel Adebayor was denied the derby goal he craved, Luka Modric barely featured as he was closed down by French youngster Francis Coquelin.

Yet those elements should be a given at this level. They are not enough in themselves ¨C not against proper teams.

And when Arsenal, pure, pure Arsenal, are whacking the ball to a centre-half playing up front, it says all you need to know about their composure.

In the end, Walker¡¯s moment of inspiration proved decisive, although Spurs would have been kicking themselves if they had not won.

While Walcott shot narrowly wide and Gervinho, set up by Van Persie, missed from 12 yards, Spurs always seemed to carry more threat.

Parker, rampaging through, fired at Szczesny in only the seventh minute, with Adebayor¡¯s power always a danger. Van der Vaart had twice gone close, first when Bale went down the left, then when Defoe crossed from the right, before the Dutchman struck with a goal that exposed Arsenal¡¯s limitations.

Van der Vaart fed Defoe and went left as his strike partner went right after finding Adebayor, whose beautiful chip exposed the huge hole left by Mertesacker.

Television replays suggested Van der Vaart ¨C already booked for a poor tackle on Kieran Gibbs ¨C cradled the ball between left arm and chest before thumping it across Szczesny and into the net. He then risked another card as he celebrated with the home fans.

Arsenal¡¯s response came six minutes after the restart, Van der Vaart allowing Alex Song to collect Kaboul¡¯s clearance, romp round the outside and find Aaron Ramsey unmarked six yards out. But Spurs, who had already gone close to a goal through Bale, simply went through the gears again.

Adebayor should have scored from Van der Vaart¡¯s ball through a square back line and when Arsebnal fell asleep as Sandro sauntered down the left, Modric¡¯s blocked shot fell to Walker to unleash his killer blow.

There should have been more. Bale waltzed through the day-dreamers to slide wide, Defoe was denied by Szczesny after the Welsh winger had skinned Jenkinson and then missed by inches.

Spurs did not care. This meant so much for them. Psychologically though, it may mean even more for Arsenal.

Something is badly broken, seemingly irreparably.

[Justin]

www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Oliver-Holt-s-Big-Match-Verdict-Arsenal-caught-in-an-identity-crisis-against-Tottenham-Hotspur-article807636.html

Think of three things you never thought you would see at Arsenal.

Things stranger than the team lying 15th in the Premier League after nearly one fifth of the season.

Stranger than the table showing they are just two points off the relegation zone. Stranger than the fact they have the fourth worst goal difference in the league.

On an October Sunday where the girls lay in bikinis in ­Finsbury Park, there were plenty of other weird scenes in north London.

Because five minutes from the end of their clash with Tottenham yesterday, Arsenal moved their lump of a centre-half up to play centre-forward.

That’s right. Arsenal did that. The most cultured team in England stuck the big fella from defence up front. The best footballing team in Europe this side of Barcelona hoiked long balls in the general ­direction of the Spurs box.

In the States, they call that kind of pass a Hail Mary because you launch it with a prayer and very little else.

That’s what Arsenal were reduced to by the end of a superb derby yesterday.

Arsene Wenger stuck all 6ft 6in of Per Mertesacker up front with Robin Van Persie.

Maybe he figured he was more use there than in defence where he had played like a drain most of the ­afternoon.

It wasn’t quite Stuart Pearce deciding to play David James at centre-forward for Manchester City but in the context of an Arsenal side, it was distinctly odd.

Next up, Wojciech Szczesny came up for a corner as Arsenal desperately searched for a second equaliser. And then he came up for another corner.

Much more of this and we’ll be calling Arsenal the Crazy Gang. And finally, after the final whistle, when Spurs assistant Clive Allen embarked on a weirdly manic and ultimately futile quest to shake Wenger’s hand, the strangest thing of all happened.

Wenger paused for a second at the entrance to the tunnel and looked back towards where an increasingly agitated Allen was being restrained by ­stewards, caught his eye and beckoned him with that time-honoured gesture that says, ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’.

Maybe after 15 years in English football, Wenger’s finally gone native.

What is without doubt is he is under intense pressure, although not the kind where his job is at risk. The club’s majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, broke his famous silence last week to declare Wenger had a job for life.

And even though there is understandable disquiet among the club’s supporters, only a deluded few want the manager fired.

The pressure will come from Wenger himself. Because both he and Arsenal are in new territory here. They are already 12 points behind both the Manchester teams and when Wenger was asked if the title was out of reach, he hesitated before giving a vague answer.

The truth, of course, is the title was out of reach some time ago. The real battle for the club is for fourth place and Arsenal’s chances of beating either Spurs or ­Liverpool to that prize already appear forlorn.

They did not play badly yesterday in losing to their north London rivals. For large parts of a pulsating game they were the better side. In Francis Coquelin and Van Persie, they had two of the best players on the pitch. There were certainly enough signs to suggest they will soon begin to climb the table.

They badly miss Jack Wilshere and Thomas Vermaelen but Wilshere, sadly, will not be back until the New Year and Vermaelen appears fragile.

There are still many, many other causes for concern. Mertesacker, one of Wenger’s last-minute recruitments, had a poor game in central defence.

Szczesny played superbly but should have saved Kyle Walker’s fiercely-hit winner.

Mikel Arteta was neat without ever looking like he can match the ­penetration or quality of the player he was bought to replace, Cesc Fabregas.

And most depressing of all for Arsenal fans, the team that lost to Spurs yesterday was careless in possession. Aaron Ramsey, their ­goalscorer, was culpable in that. But he was far from alone.

Kieran Gibbs, Gervinho, Alex Song and Mertesacker were all guilty, too.

Maybe it is a symptom of the lack of confidence that seems to be afflicting the entire club at the moment.

Arsenal are caught up in an identity crisis and the sight of their centre-half tottering unsteadily towards the Spurs box like a lost ostrich yesterday did little to ease it.

[Justin]

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23993873-all-too-familiar-tale-as-wengers-flaws-are-cruelly-exposed-again.do

All-too familiar tale as Wenger's flaws are cruelly exposed again


Arsene Wenger continues to walk on the wrong side of the line between admirable defiance and damaging naivety, as a lack of alternatives in personnel and tactics has left Arsenal with a considerable task in maintaining their top four status.

The Gunners found such an irresistible alchemy of attack-minded football and defensive discipline in their pomp under Wenger that it must be difficult for the Frenchman to accept their current limitations. But there is a point when nostalgia for the past becomes an obstruction in the present.

Arsenal lack the defensive fortitude to make their commitment to attacking football credible and it remains the principal explanation why the club's trophy drought has entered its seventh season.

Wenger's credibility has never been more in doubt as the credit earned through unprecedented success in the first half of his 15 years in north London has been steadily eroded.

There were mitigating circumstances, not least the injuries that forced a reshuffle any manager would wish to avoid in a high-profile fixture, while Arsenal controlled the midfield for sustained periods in a manner that suggested they may defy the odds to record a valuable victory.

But familiar vulnerabilities proved their undoing again. To persevere with a system built around a player who has left and to set up your team to play so openly despite exhibiting such fragile confidence is either valiant or vain.

Results suggest the latter. Arsenal are yet to find the right balance in midfield following Cesc Fabregas's departure and although Aaron Ramsey scored an equaliser yesterday, the Welshman is yet to convince he can dictate games with anywhere near the same authority as his Spanish predecessor. "We played with the handbrake on in the first half but after half-time we came out and had a go at them and got back to 1-1," said Wenger.

"But then we didn't push on enough and let them get back into the game. That shows we are not playing with confidence. We want to protect our result too much when we have one."

Results breed confidence but Arsenal are not in a position to be cavalier. A weak defence at least needs additional protection but, just as at Old Trafford, Wenger set his team up to expansively to win the game.

Although it threatened to work as Arsenal edged the midfield battle courtesy of their extra man, a more considered approach could, in hindsight, have earned at least a point which would have been considered acceptable given their current malaise.

But they remained gung-ho throughout, with wide players Gervinho and Theo Walcott displaying no defensive instinct to leave their full-backs dangerously exposed.

There is simply no flexibility in Arsenal's style at present - substitutions Wenger makes are so often like for like rather than presenting a different problem for the opposition.

By contrast, Harry Redknapp addressed the issue that was stifling his side and the result was a winning goal from Kyle Walker to give Spurs a five-point cushion with a game in hand on their fiercest rivals. "We had a problem in the first half with the way they played," said Redknapp. "We played with two midfield players, they played with three. They played with one up and two wide and they had a lot of possession in midfield because they had the extra man in there.

"I nearly changed it at half-time. We came in one up but I didn't feel comfortable with the way we were going.

"I thought, 'Let's give it 10 minutes and see how we go'. But they scored and then we made a change. We got in control then and last half-hour we were the better team. If anyone was going to score again, it was going to be us."

Spurs appeared to be bypassed by Liverpool and dwarfed by Manchester City in the race to build a squad for the top four over the summer yet hope has been renewed in a manner that should earn Redknapp considerable praise.

Spurs were also missing a number of players but they dealt with their absentees far better than Arsenal and the additions of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor suddenly give an impressive depth to their squad.

Tottenham opened the scoring when Adebayor found Rafael Van der Vaart with a raking cross-field pass. The Dutchman appeared to handle the ball as he brought it under control - which could have earned him a second yellow card following an earlier booking - but with Per Mertesacker slow to close down the space, Van der Vaart drilled a low shot past Szczesny.

Van der Vaart left Alex Song to cross for Ramsey to equalise but slack marking at the other end allowed Sandro to drive forward, the ball broke from Luka Modric to Walker, who hit a swerving 25-yard effort that Wojciech Szczesny should probably have saved.

Wenger refused to shake Clive Allen's hand at the final whistle, prompting the Spurs coach to seemingly shout a four-letter expletive at the Arsenal manager, while abhorrent chanting from both sets of fans detracted somewhat from an enthralling encounter.

"I don't think about winning the title at the moment, we have to set realistic targets like to get in the Champions League positions," said Wenger.

Arsenal's historical pedigree in achieving that goal may yet help them prevail but Spurs' case is more impressive at present.

[su1409]

spurs must keep on winning not only to qualify for the CL next season but challenge the 2 mans for the EPL crown...if we can show consistency in our play we have a real chance to bring the EPL crown to the lane...we must always be positive..SPURS BOLEH!

[su1409]

Kaboul and King...ooh they're fantastic..Parker and Modric...ooh excellent...Adebayor and Defoe...ooh gaves 200% commitment...bale is the next Bolt...Walker and Esoto... ooh wonderful and Van n Friedel thank you.

[Justin]

there are two regular meeting places for live games

check out the report from Sid's
www.hoohaa.my/stadium-2/oct-4-spurs-arsenal-techno-viking/

and also pic from Majeeds

Attachments:

[Justin]

the famed Techno Viking dance after we beat the scum

Attachments: