Arsenal 3-Spurs 0 (Updated with Highlights)

By: Martin | October 31st, 2009

Watch Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur MotD Highlights in Sports | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.comThat could not have gone much better. We may have answered some questions today. For one thing, of our previous 6 wins, they have all been over bottom half of the table clubs. We just beat a club sitting 4th in the table, and we did so convincingly. It was also great, given our recent struggles holding onto leads, to see Arsenal finish off a game–instead of sitting on the lead, we grew stronger and more dominant as the game went along.

For most of the first half, the game was pretty even, even though we were definitely creating more opportunities. Then, in the span of less than a minute, we broke the game wide open. In the 42nd minute, Sagna put a superb ball into the box that Robbie did very, very well to get a foot on and direct it through Gomes’s arms. It happened really fast, but in all honesty, it’s one of those goals that was much more difficult than it appeared–it may not make a lot of highlight reels, but make no mistake, it was a world-class finish by a world-class striker. Then, off the ensuing kick-off, Spurs lost possession and Cesc got the ball in the middle of the field, and then just…well, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was like one of Pele’s goals from “Victory.” He just ran straight through Spurs’ entire defense, got into the box, and put a fine finish past Gomes. All of a sudden it was 2-0 Arsenal, and stayed that way into the half.

In the second half, instead of getting overly tentative and defensive, we kept winning the ball and keeping possession. While we may not have been pushing forward for a goal, we were at least holding the ball and moving the ball forward, which was definitely in contrast to how we’ve been playing while ahead recently. Then, in the 60th minute, we finished the game off with a crazy goal. We had the ball, there was an obvious foul, and almost everybody on both teams stopped playing. The only problem is that the loose ball had gone to Sagna, so the referee called for a continuation. Once Sagna realized what was happening, he put a ball into the box, and it took a deflection directly onto van Persie’s foot, and he put it into the net. It was then 3-0 Arsenal, and we looked comfortable after that.

Beating Spurs is always important for the club. Beating a 4th place club is also always important. But in terms of this match specifically, this was important for a couple of reasons. First, we had just had two successive draws, against West Ham and AZ, and needed a response. It has also been one of Arsenal’s dirty little secrets this season that we have been conceding too many goals–we are currently tied for 8th in goals allowed, behind Manchester City, Aston Villa, Stoke, Birmingham and Fulham. We’ve scored so many goals that this has been overlooked, but in the big games against quality teams, we need to tighten up at the back. But aside from Manchester United and maybe Manchester City, Spurs have more attacking quality than any team we’ve played so far. So keeping a clean sheet makes a big statement. Not only that, but the way we did it–Spurs only got 4 shots on goal, and frankly, very few of them really forced Almunia into making a difficult save. Hopefully our backline can build on this going forward.

Almunia 6.5. Didn’t really have much to do. Looked a little tentative early, but settled in as the game went on. I think he did enough to at least keep his place for next week.

Sagna 8. Two weeks in a row he’s put good balls into the box. Good in defending his space, and two assists on good balls in on both of van Persie’s goals. Great performance.

Clichy 6.5.Solid performance from Clichy today, but does seem to be suffering from a crisis of confidence–several times he jumped into passing lanes to cut out Spurs attacks and start Arsenal counter-attacks. But needs to be a little more decisive in the final third.

Vermaelen 7.5. Concentrated on preventing Spurs from getting anything going on, and did so very effectively. Was charged with marking Crouch, who’s always tough to defend, but did his job very well.

Gallas 7. Had a few sloppy moments, most notably a handball which gave away a free kick just outside the box, but generally very solid.

Song 7.5. Great bounceback performance from Song. Generally good at winning and keeping possession. Arsenal had the majority of possession in the match, and that was down to Song’s performance more than anyone.

Diaby 6. No major mistakes, but pretty ineffective.

Cesc 8.5. Co-Man of the Match. Generally played very well despite squaring off against a very good holding midfielder in Palacios, and scored Arsenal’s goal of the season in netting the second goal with a superb solo effort.

Bendtner 5. Re-injured his groin early and had to be substituted, but looked very, very poor before that. Appears to have taken a step back from last season.

Arshavin 7. Made a few useful runs, and his aggressiveness kept Spurs defenders back a little bit, which may have opened up space for other Arsenal players, but never found a way through to goal himself.

van Persie 8.5. Co-Man of the Match. As I said above, both of those goals, the first one especially, are those kind of goals which look easy but are actually pretty difficult and take a lot of skill and concentration. 7 goals in 10 league games this season.

Eduardo 6. Played decently, but isn’t he supposed to be our “fox in the box?” He blew 2 easy, easy chances, which he should have done better with.

Eboue 6. Decent substitute performance, including a sublime through ball for Eduardo.

Wenger’s Tie 7 Solid. He seems to be sticking with the same tie now for league fixtures.

Ramsey came on very late.

All in all, a first-class performance by us. It looks like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Sunderland could very well drop points today, so we continue to open up some space at the top of the table. I know it’s still early, but it looks like three horses have broken away from the pack, and we’re one of those horses. Hopefully we can keep it up.

We’ve got AZ on Wednesday, and a win there would basically punch our ticket to the group stages. Then it’s away to Wolves on Saturday, in a game we really should take 3 points from, before the international break.

Also, the Carling Cup draw took place, and we’ll play Manchester City at Eastlands. That’s a pretty tough draw, but will really give our second team a chance to prove themselves against top-quality opposition, including Toure and Adebayor. It sure would be nice to get a win there and make it to the two-leg semifinal, but it might be a tall order.

That’s it–have good weekends.