Tottenham vs Arsenal : Talking Points

Nothing is more satisfying for an Arsenal fan, than beating Spurs at White Heart Lane. Doing that, in a cup competition is an added pleasure. The last two games have been terrible for Arsenal. Two defeats, three red cards and just a case of bad luck led many people to believe, that Arsenal were back to their usual slump that they go through in periods every season. But, they’ve now beaten Spurs in the third round of the League Cup at White Hart Lane and all is forgotten.

There were 5 major talking points from this exhilarating Tottenham vs Arsenal game.

1. The Line-Ups

As expected, both sides made changes to their starting 11. But, it sure wasn’t expected that both clubs would be so bold with the number of changes. Just three Spurs players in Eric Dier, Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli started in the weekend win against Crystal Palace. Whereas for Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey was the sole survivor from Stamford Bridge.

It’s probably fair to say, Spurs fielded their best attacking players with Harry Kane, Chadli, Eriksen and Townsend. While in defence, they had a newcomer into the first team setup in Austrian international, Kevin Wimmer along with relatively experienced, Federico Fazio.

Meanwhile, Arsenal even with their ten changes, seemed like a pretty experienced outfit. Both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini started the game in the absence of Coquelin (injury) and Cazorla (suspension), while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell started on either side of Olivier Giroud. Per Mertesacker returned to the side after nearly a month, with Calum Chambers earning his second start of the season after the horror show against Liverpool.

1. A point to prove for some of the fringe players

This is the main purpose of the Capital One Cup. To give some of the youngsters and the fringe players an opportunity to prove their worth to their managers. For Spurs, it was mainly the defensive players who had a point to prove. They ran a pretty tight ship at the back for most of the time. Danny Rose always looked like a constant threat on the left flank whenever he bombed forward. Even in midfield, the youngster Tom Carroll was keeping things tidy and making some incisive passes into the feet of Harry Kane.

Whereas for Arsenal, there were a number of players who wanted to show the level of their game to the gaffer. Joel Campbell for instance, had his first start of the season. He played quite decently, but never really got as much time and space on the ball as he’d have hoped, but whenever he did get the ball, he retained possession really well for Arsenal with some intelligent play. He even stuck in into tackles when it was required.

Calum Chambers, another youngster, had something to prove after the terrible showing against Liverpool earlier in the season. Apart from the own goal that he conceded, which was a clear result of inexperience and miscommunication, he had a pretty decent game overall, with plenty of interceptions and clearances. He should be pleased with his performance. Also, Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy who have fallen down the pecking order as first team starters, looked pretty solid at the back. It’s a nice headache for Arsene Wenger to have, to choose a starting line-up every week from a group of players with such immense quality.

1. The difference in quality on the wings

It was a very even, well-contested game of football. Even if it did not have the traditional heat that is usually observed between these rivals, both teams looked very solid from the first minute to the last. But ultimately, the game was won and lost on the wings. Arsenal’s quality on the wings shone brighter as compared to that to Tottenham.

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain had a wonderful game. He was on the forefront of every Arsenal attack and he led every counter. Before the game, Wenger had backed him to be more open and believe in himself and his quality. He himself had said that he needs to contribute more goals to the team. And little did he disappoint. As he received the ball from Olivier Giroud outside the penalty area, it was his stinging shot that Flamini directed into the open net for the first Arsenal goal. He was always on the prowl and Kieran Trippier was having a hard time dealing with the Ox.

Chadli and Townsend for Spurs, on the other hand just weren’t that effective. It’s not that they had a bad game; they were just lacking a cutting edge that would get them over the line. Even the big money deadline day signing Heung Son Min was unable to provide a breakthrough when he came on as a substitute.

Whereas, for Arsenal, it was the mighty Alexis Sanchez who came on. Spurs had enjoyed a pretty good spell before his introduction. They had scored a goal and had the momentum to go on and get another. But, with Alexis on, the game suddenly tilted on its head. It took around two minutes after his introduction, for a sweeping Arsenal move in midfield and a piercing ball from Aaron Ramsey, for Alexis to get behind the Spurs defence, cut inside and have a shot on target, from which he probably should have scored. Even after that, he posed a constant threat, and the difference in class showed on the wings between the two sides.

1. Not a “Harry Kane” season

He just couldn’t score. It was unbelievable and astounding even. Kane did everything right. He peeled off the defenders when he needed to peel. He played really well with last defender. He kept the ball and held it up really well; sometimes even went deep into midfield to receive it and keep the game flowing. He ran down the channels on both the wings. Had a quite a few shots. Scored an offside goal. He even had a bicycle kick from a corner cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs. But, he just couldn’t score. It was simply astonishing! He has just been a bit unlucky is all, up until this point this season. If he keeps this up, goals will flow again and the Hurri-Kane will be back in North London soon enough.

1. Mathieu Flamini

Who would have thought Mathieu Flamini would be the most important talking point here; that he would be the headlines of most of the morning papers back in the UK. Flamini himself wouldn’t have thought of it. Nor would he have thought that he’d be hitting the cleanest of volleys around the 80 minute mark in a North London Derby at White Hart Lane to give Arsenal the win, when he’d have seen his name on the teamsheet before the game.

It’s one of those stories that simply stun you and leave you speechless; one of those stories that you just can’t get your head around that someone who is way down the pecking order for a place in the starting line up would come up and beat your oldest rivals by scoring not just one, but two goals.

These goals were by no means, fluke. For the first goal, Flamini sprinted into the penalty area from midfield just in the hope that Michel Vorm would parry Chamberlain’s shot and he would be able to then latch on to it, and that is exactly what happened. And then came the stunner! Alexis tried a through ball that a Spurs defender just cleared into the air for it to fall from the sky and onto the onrushing Flamini’s right foot, at the edge of the box; he then hit a pure low, controlled, well placed volley that left Vorm with no chance. What a story!