I didn’t see Spurs v Leverkusen, but can’t believe the team with the best defensive record are going to be that bad again.
Yes, I want to see Arsenal rip into them early, take advantage of their doubts and score a few, but Arsenal without puppet master Cazorla are more likely to struggle, as they did against Boro.
And Spurs are better than Boro, surely?
Myles says:
You were right about Cazorla, Philip. And right about Kane and Aldeweireld too.
But what this derby demonstrated,above all, was how good Mousa Demblele is.
A playmaking halfback who can hold you off, slow it down, give you time to be where your team needs you to be.
Dembele gave Spurs a lot of balance and composure, enough time to move and play.
And I’m biased towards that: always thought that a big man with skill is the most exciting thing in football.
Theo Walcott admitted that the Pochettino’s 3-3-2-2 formation baffled the Arsenal players.
Wenger denied that, I was told. But he would.
As a friend said yesterday, “Arsene doesn’t do tactics.”
“No,” I replied, “He does choreography, practice and rehearsals.That’s why he’s lost so many finals.”
From David Margolis :Spurs/Arsenal
Hi Myles,
Arsenal, who seem in fine goal-scoring form, have been helped by Sunderland and Ludogorets who didn’t know how to defend.
Under Pochettino two years ago, Spurs scrapped to a draw in one of the worst performances I’d seen by them at Arsenal, and then last year was the best I’d seen by a Tottenham team (going back all the way to ‘84). They were completely dominant for the first 70 mins and could only get a draw. This upcoming North London derby won’t be a romp as much as I want it to be.
If Mertesacker and Gabriel weren’t injured at the same time, we’d be having a different conversation about Arsenal,.
The Mustafi signing was critical. He gives Arsenal more than making it AW’s most complete and best squad in over a decade.
Mustafi loves to win the ball early. Mistakes and a couple of red cards should be expected, but the pay-off is worth it (even if it happens against Tottenham). His aggression sends a ripple though the team, Bellerin can launch forward with greater confidence, Kos plays better, and Cech finally seems happy with the partnership in front of him. However, it’s not perfect.
I thought after the Swansea game Kos and Mustafi would sort out their marking in open play — it seemed too easy for opponents to drift off them in the box — then Ludogorets (a fine attacking team) exploited that area again.
Let’s see what happens in the coming weeks.
Myles says:
Arsene FC is geared to finishing Top Four, David. Only that.
That makes Wenger a Champions League manager.
On Monday afternoon I wondered what the Evening Standard would say about the disappointing show.
The Standard can’t say too much, of course, being a local paper.
Their headline was Arsenal don’t have the look of true champions.
The sub-head was Wenger’s men have their title limitations exposed again after failing to finish off vulnerable Spurs.
Thanks for your letters.
I will read all of them later today.