The oscillating action of the North London derby enthralled viewers, but ultimately Arsenal and Spurs had to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. TheHardTackle discusses five talking points from Sunday’s entertaining game.
In the end, neither team could break down the other to get the winner and both had to go home with just a point. This may have hurt Arsenal more, as an emphatic win would have seen them go top of the table just before the international break.
Meanwhile, Tottenham looked like they would run away with it at various stages of the game, and Mauricio Pochettino too will feel that his side could have come away from the Emirates with more than a point.
TheHardTackle looks at five talking points from the North London derby:
1. Kevin Wimmer had a howler of a first half
Toby Alderweireld is one of Spurs’ key players who could have turned the game on its head. However, the Belgian centre-half was replaced by Kevin Wimmer, and the Austrian did turn the game on its head with an own goal.
It wasn’t much of a season debut to remember for Wimmer. He was shown the game’s first yellow card withing five minutes of kick-off, and then headed into his own net from a Mesut Ozil free-kick with half-time just around the corner.
A much-improved second half performance helped him make amends for a nightmare first half.
2. Petr Cech imperious as usual in goal
Cech is proving to be worth his weight in gold for Arsenal. Although his performance in the North London derby wasn’t marked by spectacular saves, his contribution was no less influential.
Twice in the first half he came out to collect the ball in dangerous situations. There was also an instance in the first half where Cech slipped outside his box with Son bearing down on him. However, the Czech keeper regained his composure to make sure that the South Korean did not get to the ball first.
3. Harry Kane loves the North London derby
After Wimmer’s own goal, it looked like Tottenham’s unbeaten streak in the Premier League would be coming to an end. However cometh the hour, cometh the man. Mousa Dembele won Spurs a penalty early in the second half and Harry Kane stepped up to take it.
This was Kane’s first appearance in almost two months, and the man who had scored three in his last four North London derbies made no mistake from the spot. The 23-year-old shot it straight down the middle past a diving Cech to make it 1-1.
4. Alex Iwobi not impressive enough
Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi was given a start ahead of the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey. However, the young Nigerian looked woefully inept as the game wore on. He was guilty of giving away cheap possession several times in the first half, but his worst moment came when he scuffed a beautiful chance to score.
The 20-year-old will be hoping that this is just a minor blip in his season and he can improve from here on in.
5. Dembele is Pochettino’s crown jewel
Manager Mauricio Pochettino labelled Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele a ‘genius’ after the North London derby. The statistics back up the Argentine manager and show that Dembele was indeed possibly the best player on the pitch.
The Belgian central midfielder won back possession more than any other Spurs player, completed 42 of 47 passes, made three successful tackles and two interceptions. Dembele bossed the midfield and the 29-year-old will be crucial to Spurs’ hopes this campaign.
