Nervy Arsenal hang on as Mikel Arteta admits: 'I was praying at the ...
ARSENAL might not end up Premier League champions but only a weirdo would call Mikel Arteta's men bottlers if Manchester City do pip them to the title.
Recent setbacks of a home defeat by Aston Villa and their Champions League exit in Munich prompted critics to start talking about choking and a lack of nerve which prompted their downfall last season. A late-night win at Wolves and two memorable London derby victories over Chelsea and their closest rivals Tottenham in a nine-point week since Munich have shown this edition of the Arsenal is mentally strong. Tottenham, meanwhile, came into the match with a Champions League top four place in their own hands, but only when they were losing did they look like living up to their billing.
Arteta conceded he was praying for victory gifting Tottenham an unlikely route back into a match they trailed by three goals at half-time. Goalkeeper David Raya’s horrible clearance handed Cristian Romero a goal and a lifeline after 64 minutes and Declan Rice’s misjudged clearance presented Heung-min Son with an 87th minute penalty and a world of pain for the already nervous thousands of supporters packed into the away end here.
Arsenal’s leading goalscorer Bukayo Saka insisted: "We showed what we had learned today. Maybe last season that could have ended in a draw and we showed we have the experience. The last 20 minutes wasn't nice, but it was worth it! We know it is a big derby and they don't want to lose 3-0 at home. Momentum shifted their way, but I am proud of the boys.
"We needed to be calm and everything was frantic. We showed our level heads and I am proud of everyone, it was a nice moment - we know what it means to the fans. It means everything and it is a massive win for us.”
Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou saw enough to be convinced his side are not too far away from challenging higher up the table and maybe another season without Champions League football will give them room to breathe and grow further next season. Scant consolation, of course, as the resigned Australian coach said afterwards his men still lack the attention to the finer details that make the difference between scoring and conceding, winning and losing.
Arsenal’s Spanish manager could not wipe the smile off his relieved face afterwards as he said: “I was praying at the end! It was an emotional game. This is a very tough place to come, with an incredible atmosphere and a great team to play against. We had to dig in and suffer and react. I’m very pleased with the way the team has done it.
“You can’t just pretend to come here, not suffer and play Spurs off the park. It doesn’t happen. You just have to look at their performances against the other top teams to prove that because they’re a really good side.”
Asked whether a comfortable victory or a gritty win would serve his side better in their three remaining matches of the season – at home to Bournemouth, away to Manchester United and home against Everton – he smiled: ”I don’t know. We’re gonna make it that the second option is a great one. We’ve done it two years in a row here, which is extremely difficult. Last year as well we had to suffer in the second half to win. Great - the team has another tool. Something else to grab which is the confidence that when it comes to the biggest stage in the big games you have the ability to win it. Good learning.”
Both sides struggled to manage their nerves with so much pride and glory on the line. Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg changed that when he headed into his own net to gift Arteta’s men a 15th minute lead from a Saka corner. Cristian Romero headed against a post for Tottenham soon after as if conceding a goal had driven the home side to another level of effort and desire.
Arsenal were struggling to keep a grip on things. That was when Spurs thought they had equalised through a Micky van den Ven shot only for the Dutch defender to be ruled offside – by a boot and VAR.
Arsenal were back in it and two-up in a flash. The impressive Kai Havertz pinged a pass up to Saka just inside the Tottenham half and the England winger did the rest. He held the line to stay onside and his first touch was the deftest of left-foot dabs to bring the ball down before he ran at goal, cut inside a mesmerised Ben Davies and curled a low shot past a stranded Guglielmo Vicario.
No need for VAR this time, though some Tottenham supporters felt there should have been a check for an earlier coming together in the Arsenal area when Dejan Kulusevski went tumbling in a tangle with Leandro Trossard.
One attempt on target and two goals up. If Arsenal were not in dreamland already, they were after 38 minutes when Declan Rice swept in a corner from the left and Havertz scored again. The once much-maligned German international headed in virtually unmarked for his 12th Premier League goal of the season.
Three up but still not entirely convincing and Arsenal had to weather a couple of scares to maintain their healthy lead going into half-time. They then got through the crucial opening 15 minutes of the second half before calamity keeper Raya gifted Tottenham a route back into the match. Under no pressure, he tried to get clever with a chipped clearance from his own are only to pass the ball straight to Romero, who duly shot the ball straight back past him into the Arsenal net.
The Argentine defender was essentially playing as a forward every time Tottenham got the ball now and the match felt like it was in the balance again. The Tottenham supporters certainly believed again and their players displayed a conviction that had Arsenal rocking again.
Imagine what it was like then when Son fired in an 87th minute penalty after Rice kicked Davies as he attempted to clear the ball. Tottenham had some possession but no further chances and although they might feel they deserved a draw, the result is all that matters.
TOTTENHAM: Vicario 6, Davies 5 (Lo Celso 88), van de Ven 6, Romero 6, Porro 6, Bentancur 6 (Sarr 45), Hojbjerg 5 (Bissouma 63), Werner 6 (Johnson 31), Maddison 5 (Richarlison 63), Kulusevski 6, Son 5.
Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Gil, Royal.
ARSENAL: Raya 5, White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Tomiyasu 6, Odegaard 7 (Kiwior 89), Partey 6, Rice 6, Saka 7, Havertz 8, Trossard 6 (Martinelli 63).
Subs: Ramsdale, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Jorginho, Vieira, Zinchenko.
Referee: Michael Oliver 6 Att : 61,544
