Match Threads Arsenal Vs Spurs

[mdharris]

Im not as critical of the system as some. I thought we set out to limit their quality chances and hit them on the counter. By and large, we did that. Partey’s goal was a nice strike, but those usually don’t go in.

Our counter attacking was generally poor though. Passes from Son, Richarlison, Perisic, Kane were poorly weighted, mistimed or mis-angled. Chances gave way to half chances because of poor execution. Nevertheless, at the break, you felt that we would generate enough counterattacks for us to get one right.

So, until the mistakes, the system itself was not the issue.

Then came a series of individual gaffes - Son lazily closing down Saka for his cross-cum-shot resulting in the second. Lloris very very poor. It’s the type of error we are seeing more frequently from him. These decide close games, and Lloris really made a mess of it.

Even at 2-1, we could have fought back. And then Emerson shit the bed. Truly a brainless challenge. Yes it was a harsh red but you don’t make that type of challenge. Game over.

 

[Adrian Mepham]

Can’t see us finishing above them this season. If we continue to play like this we will lose quite a few more games. Still too many square or back passes for my liking. Hugo, Royal and Hojberg the worst of a poor bunch today. Conte’s reputation will buy him more time but not sure how much if he doesn’t soon recognise that this system is not working.

 

[Zippy1980]

At least Kane scored ?‍

If things don’t change he will be gone

 

[1882andallthat]

We have 3 RWB's and the one who was best equipped to deal with Martinelli today did not play one minute of that game. We also desperately needed Bissouma on from the start to shore up the midfield.

Martinelli and Saka had a bloody field day down the flanks.

In my opinion this one was on Conte's selections today. The only saving grace was we didn't let in more and kept it at 3-1, which is the only thing Conte deserves credit for from today's game

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Yeah same here.

Honestly can't believe that people can't see that.

You can't afford big mistakes in big away games..they have such an impact.

But the flavour of the game was very different HT.

Its just not acknowledged though

Personally I thought we were incredibly poor for the first 30 mins, better for 20 and started to take control but still suffered from some awful passing then started the second half like we started the first. The moment we let in that second goal we looked completely deflated and lost fight. After the red it was finished.

We lost the game primarily because of two mistakes but Arsenal were the better team for most of the game, excluding 10 v 11, and I don’t think we ever really looked confident or convincing. Overall a poor performance imo but not worth dwelling on. I mentioned a few weeks ago we would continue to blow hot and cold and I’m sure that will continue.

I do think there are some balance issues tho that are aren’t going to get fixed by game time. Royal at RWB, no creativity in our front three when Kulu isn’t fit and 2 Vs 3 in midfield are the main concerns for me.

 

[gaz73]

whilst i can accept defeat and shocking moments from 2 of the back 6 what i cant accept is why our so called strong front 3 are struggling so much.... the passing and final balls in first half was woeful.... kane himself looks completely out of sorts.... can't help but think some of these players are not entirely happy with the system we play where we are starving ourselves from having the ball and not allowing these players play to their strengths and create much more

 

[spurmin]

End of an Era, the Djed Spence revolution can now begin

Until he makes a mistake.

 

[DarwinSpur]

Martinelli’s play acting made the challenge look a lot worse than it really was. He was up straight away soon as Royal was off the pitch.

Nobody in the stadium, on the pitch, or in the commentary box thought it was a red until Taylor brandished the card.

 

[Gilzean at the near post]

What did you expect him to do?

I know it was a long shot but I'd expect him to maintain a bit of a goal threat. Keeping on Kane who has little pace and with the rest of the players having little creativity was disappointing. The 2 players in Gil and Spence who may have offered something going forward if he wanted the wholesale changes were still left on the bench

 

[rossdapep]

Yeah, I think its fair to criticise the club for not going big on a RWB considering its such a key part of Conte's system.

Although, Im not sure who would have been out there to get

 

[mr ashley]

He’s also literally guaranteed us Champions League football by saving a Aubameyang penalty in injury time at 1-1 in a season we finished a point above arsenal.

People always say this about Lloris.
yes he does make saves but in big games his kicking always puts us under so much pressure. And he has a howler in him more than every other top keeper
I don’t think these things cancel themselves out.

 

[TOLBINY]

We are playing a particular system that involves wing backs, but we don't really have wing backs who excel in that system - at least when it comes to the attacking third. A lot of people on SC (myself included) have been concerned by our performances, others have said the points tally is what matters, but when you see your team performing poorly / indifferently too often that should tell you that something is not right.

If you don't have the players to excel in the system you either change the players, which you can only do twice a year, or change the system (at least until you have the players you need to excel in your chosen system).

 

[JerryGarcia]

I agree with this to a point. Jenas was all like "ugh same old Tottenham", implying that this was the same sort of performance we've been putting in so far this season but I thought it was much, much better in the first half. The couple of minutes where we let in that awful second and Royal's red obviously kicked us in the balls and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion from then on.

It often seems like Jenas is so desperate to show how impartial he is that he’s afraid to give us any kind of praise unless we win by four or five. The rest of the time he just nods in agreement with the other pundits.

 

[spurs mental]

If things don’t change he will be gone

If he could turn up and drag us through a game like he did v City last season it would be nice

 

[rossdapep]

Nobody in the stadium, on the pitch, or in the commentary box thought it was a red until Taylor brandished the card.

Yeah to be fair when it happened in real time I was more frustrated Emerson had made that foul there where he had. It felt like a typical trip.

I was shocked when I heard the crowd react and thought someone had done something off camera

 

[Trent Crimm]

If things don’t change he will be gone

maybe then we will score from a free kick or create a threat from one. Imagine playing us and defending free kicks. Easiest gig ever.

 

[dannyo]

I thought we were actually still in it before Lloris decided to chuck it into his own net, but I can't lie the problems this season are happening over and over again and it's worrying.

Lack of control in games means we're always going to be more vulnerable to conceding from fuck-ups, deflections, set pieces etc. Lack of general technical ability on show means we can't create from static situations, making it hard to come from behind or consistently beat teams who sit back. Lack of plan B when the system isn't working.

Any takes from today are over the top as it was two individuals which cost us, but there are questions for Conte to answer about ongoing, consistent issues now. Arsenal were tactically and technically miles ahead of us today.

Completely agree. I’ve said before I don’t enjoy watching it but Conte’s system is effective and you can’t argue with the number of points he’s picked up for us. When you concede that much possession and drop so deep you are going to struggle if someone gives a goal away or an opposition player bangs one in from 25 yards. Both happened today, compounded by a stupid red card.

Royal is an easy target for abuse but he’s got to come out of the team because he is where attacks go to die and when he’s not on it defensively, he’s a complete waste of a shirt. On a completely separate note, I have to say I’m massively disappointed with Perisic too - maybe I was expecting too much from him

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Rare poor mistake from lloris cost us, but didn't put us out of the game. The moronic decision by Royal is unforgivable, costs us any chance of getting back in it and it's time now for all to accept he is a significant week link and will get exposed against the better teams.

Is it rare from Lloris? seems to do this a lot in the big away games. They kind of feel like not genuine mistakes as well to me, like not how you would normally approach collecting the ball or saving a shot like he’s getting a back hander or something. Yes I am paranoid.

 

[thebenjamin]

Was Perisic playing today?

 

[SE Spurs]

Don't know who to blame first for that.
Conte's decision not to play Bissouma and give up the midfield again was a huge mistake. We can not sit off against good opposition, and hope they don't do something special. First goal prime example.
Hugo, captain of the team. You at least hope the captain is one of your most reassuring players on the pitch. Yet he's one of the least reassuring.
And Royal. Not only a stupid needless challenge. But a perfect example of why playing this sit off, hope they don't score, and catch em on the break style ain't gonna win us any trophies. Because we still have too many individual ill-disciplined, error ridden players to play 90 minutes against good sides without fucking up.

Just hope they learn from this.