Brighton 1 Spurs 1
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Arsenal’s big game is Atletico Madrid.
They could lose both legs.
But both games might be very tight and that’s when they’ll wish Aubameyang was eligible and Mkhitaryan was fit.
Tottenham’s big game is Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at 5.15pm.
Tuesday night’s Brighton-Spurs game was 0-0 at half-time.
If that makes the first half sound dull, it was. It really was.
Dele Alli was rested and Harry Kane was static, peripheral and unfit-looking. He came back too soon from the ankle injury and he will not catch Mo Salah playing like this.
Second half, Pochettino switched his attack around, putting Lucas Moura on the left wing and Son on the right. Immediately Son wriggled along the byeline and got fouled (penalty!) and the ball broke to Kane who smashed it in.
But 18 seconds later the rash Serge Aurier clattered Izquierdo as he ran onto Murray’s flick to concede a clear pen and German Pascal Gross scored with a low shot to the right of keeper Hugo Lloris, who got a touch.
And 1-1 was the final score.
VERDICT : Alf Ramsey and Joe Kinnear were right backs and so was Steve Perryman. Danny Thomas and Kyle Walker were right backs. But Aurier is more suited to ice hockey.
As we’ve all seen, Pochettino has been ruthless, dropping Danny Rose last season when he wanted to leave.
Now Toby Alderweireld wants a move. Same thing happened. But Pochettino started the Belgian ace last night.
Jose Mourinho’s United are a team of bruisers who can play a defensive game roughly. He has very tough defenders with the massive Matic and the huge Pogba in front of them. And big Fellaini can be brought on if another bodyguard is needed.
I’m looking forward to Saturday afternoon.
If I can see the best of Spurs, it will be an entertaining semi-final.
When Pochettino announces his starting eleven at 4.15 pm, I’ll know if he has a chance of reaching the FA Cup Final. Poch might pick his biggest, strongest and most reliable warriors and playing on a big pitch suits his energetic style of football.
Brighton over-watered the pitch at the Amex to stop Spurs pinging it around too quickly for them.