Five Things Learnt from Arsenal/Spurs

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur play out a 1-1 draw

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t be separated at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon as they played out a 1-1 draw.

Harry Kane had given Spurs a deserved lead in the first-half, and it looked like they were going to pick up all three points in their rivals back-yard, but a Kieran Gibbs strike pulled Arsenal level.

After the Gibbs goal, it was then all Arsenal, but they couldn’t get the second and it ended 1-1.

But what did we take from the North London Derby?

Well here are SillySeason‘s Five Things learnt.

5) Harry Kane Is Back

Another game and another goal for Harry Kane.

Questions were raised about the Spurs striker when he couldn’t net in the opening few weeks, but after netting a hat-trick against AFC Bournemouth, he’s back to his old-self.

Another goal here at the Emirates, which makes it three in two league games against the Gunners and his confidence is growing game-by-game.

If Kane can keep his scoring up, and with Chelsea in shocking form, Spurs have every chance of finishing in the top-four.

4) Spurs Cannot Defend Set-Pieces

Arsenal aren’t known for being great at set-pieces, but Spurs made them look dangerous throughout.

Hugo Lloris didn’t dominate his box and it gave Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker all the space in the world to run into.

Arsenal very unlucky in the end not to score from one of the corners/free-kicks they had, but if Spurs want to be challenging, they need to get their act together at the back.

3) Kieran Gibbs Changed The Game

When Kieran Gibbs came on for Arsenal, it didn’t look like he was going to be able to change the game a lot.

However, he completely changed the game and earned Arsenal the point with the equaliser.

Gibbs’ pace and attacking intent was simply frightening and Spurs could not deal with him.

Whether Spurs’ players were tiring, or whether they just couldn’t deal with Gibbs, the English full-back had a massive influence on the game and got Arsenal the undeserved point.

Took his goal well too albeit an error from Hugo Lloris.

2) Arsenal Were Shattered

You could tell that the Arsenal players weren’t physically there.

They couldn’t track back and they couldn’t get a hold of the game, which is very surprising, especially at the Emirates Stadium.

Santi Cazorla should never have started as he was out of it and only lasted 45-minutes, but after Kieran Gibbs’ goal, they finally turned it round and finally showed pace and passion.

The game in Munich clearly took it out of the Gunners, and in the end, the point was probably a good result.

1) A Good Year for North London?

Points shared today and it could actually be a good season for North London.

Arsenal got a point when they didn’t deserve it, which showed their title credentials, while Spurs have still only lost just once this season in the Premier League.

Could Arsenal win the title? They certainly could. Will they? That’s a different question.

However, after the first 12-games, things are looking good in North London.

 

So there are our Five Things.

What are yours?

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt