Three Things We Learned from Arsenal 4 – 2 Tottenham
Another London Derby has come and gone and for all the talk of power shifts and Combined XI’s Arsenal walk away with the win and the bragging rights. Given the doubt all the pundits had about Arsenal coming into this match, it was as impressive a performance as we’ve seen all season.
With that said, let’s take a look at the Three Things We Learned from Arsenal 4 – 2 Tottenham.
Lucas Torreira – not enough superlatives.
At this rate, Lucas Torreira will go down as the best signing of the summer window. He is also putting in an early stake to being named the Young Player of the Year. And when you look at his performances, its clear to see he has been what Arsenal have been missing since Patrick Vieira last hallowed these grounds.
Martin Keown said this of his performance yesterday:
It was the best all-round midfield display I have seen in an Arsenal shirt since Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva used to run the show.
From the first whistle the Uruguayan controlled the midfield. He was utterly fearless, demanding the ball at all times, always eager to snap into tackles and snuff out danger.
His tireless running gave Arsenal an extra body all over the pitch. You got the sense that if he could, he would happily do everyone else’s job!
Defensively, if it wore white Torreira, went after it. Offensively, he moved the ball well and inteliigently and being the pivot and securing the ball in transitioning to the attack, he is providing the connectivity from one unit to the next – something we’ve also not had in a few years.
And yes, he is not Patrick Vieira, but he is providing the same vigor in that midfield spot that Patrick did.
Look at the Uruguayan’s stats from yesterday:
Shots 3/ on target 1/ 33% accuracy
Passes 44/ accurate 40/ 91% accuracy
Long passes 7/ accurate 4/ 57% accuracy
Duels 17/ won 11/ 65%
Aerials 2/ won 1/ 50%
5 interceptions
Losses 4/ own half 2
Recoveries 10
1/1 sliding tackles
2 fouls
Offensive duels 7/ won 5/ 71%
Passes to final third 4/ accurate 2
100% back passes accuracy
His averages for the year so far:
4.65 offensive duels/ 61.9% won
90.4% passing accuracy
6.52 interceptions per game
10.86 recoveries per game
In other words, he’s been a stud and his providing a solid midfield base has to be one of the reasons we’re successful.
We’re not getting overrun in the midfield as we were in recent years. As mentioned, we’re able to transition effectively from the center backs to the forwards with a proper pivot finding the space to operate in and he’s also allowed a player to Xhaka to improve and play more effectively.
Of course, there are still issues that need working on as is the case with any young player – he still tends to over play some players, but his tenacity has seen him get back and get into a good position.
At some point both Arsenal and Lucas Torreira will come back to earth. But its clear to see that both their fortunes are intertwined and frankly we should enjoy it while we can.
Unai Emery came to play
One of the most interesting tidbits to come out of yesterday’s match was a few of the players saying the win was down to their manager.
For years you could set your watch by Arsene’s substitution policy. He merely wanted to see the players on the pitch solve the problems within the match and only subbed when he thought fatigue was overcoming any player.
Emery changes because he flat out wants to win. His adjustments are meant to get the best out of the team and take advantage of the opposition. Yesterday, he felt that neither Mkhi or Iwobi were incredibly effective and needed to change the dynamic after going down 2-1.
The changes paid off in spades.
Aaron Ramsey for Mkhi and Lacazette for Iwobi. Each added something as Ramsey would assist on the equalizer and Lacazette’s go ahead goal.
But it wasn’t just the subs. The whole game plan really worked. He ran at Tottenham and exploited the space behind Aurier, It was clear to me early on that this was a weakness he identified and its where a lot of the early attacks came from.
Additionally, the early press was ferocious and caused all sorts of problems to a stunned Tottenham. Frankly, Arsenal were unlucky not be sufficiently up early in the game as they were found themselves in good positions throughout the game.
Its not fair to compare Arsene or Emery. They are different managers. What Emery has done though has put Arsenal on the right footing for this era of analytical football and he has set them up to be successful in it. He has gotten buy in from the players who are relishing in it and the fans who are loving it.
Like Torreira, it will one day come to a halt and how he and his team reacts to that remains to be seen. For now, let’s just enjoy it all.
Mesut Özil odd man out?
In watching this match and last week against Bournemouth its hard to see Mesut Özil fitting into the squad – even on the bench. Last week he was kept out due to a tactical decision by Emery. Yesterday, it was a back spasm.
Now, I love Mesut Özil and I will defend the kind of player he is until the cows come home. But as you watch that match yesterday, it didn’t need him and you don’t see where he would’ve worked in the setup.
He wasn’t going to be busting his ass to press from the front. And there wasn’t enough time and space for him to operate as the languid play maker he is.
With that being said, could we see Arsenal look to off load him? It’s hard to say, only a few weeks ago it was Aaron Ramsey people felt we could move on from and after yesterday want to keep around.
Against Leicester and even Liverpool Mesut Özil was the player we needed him to be. His staying around depends on whether he can take being sporadically used and also whether the club wants to pay a weekly wage for a player who can only be sporadically used.
On the evidence of yesterday, it seems he is the odd man out. . . this week.
Extra Time
The Tottenham supporters who lovingly said this meant more to us then them are a sad little lot. Had the lot from Middlesex won, we’ve been treated to an endless barrage of “Power Shift” articles. As was typical, their players were mouthing off ahead of the match and the pundits discounted Arsenal from the go with Tim Sherwood foolishly claiming we’re different levels to Tottenham.
We are different levels than Tottenham, but not in the sense Sherwood was alluding to. Good for Middlesex, they have a few years in the Champion’s League. They’re just happy to be there and put the pressure on – as it were. We know it takes work to get back there and getting back to challenging for titles which is what we’re all about.
Enjoy your time in the sun Spuds, Arsenal are in the ascendancy again and it won’t be long to normal order is restored. In the meantime, North London is Red now and forever more.
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