Post-Match Report

Match report: Tottenham 2-0 Arsenal

Alex Lacazette
Alex Lacazette

Tottenham Hotspur -

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Premier League
Premier League
  Tottenham Hotspur
      
              Son Heung-Min (13)
               H. Kane (45 + 1)
          
   crest
Tottenham Hotspur
Son Heung-Min (13) H. Kane (45 + 1)
2 0
  Arsenal
   crest
Arsenal

By Josh James

WHAT HAPPENED

 

We twice got caught in the counter-attack in the first half to leave the first north London derby of the season empty-handed.

 

Despite enjoying more than twice the amount of possession as our hosts, we couldn't trouble the opposition goalkeeper often enough and suffered another damaging Premier League defeat.

 

Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey both had shots off target in the opening 10 minutes as we looked to take the game to the hosts from the first whistle.

 

But we were soon rocked by a goal on the break, well finished by Son Heung-min.

 

Despite going behind we continued to dominate possession and territory, but were unable to create presentable chances.

 

Tottenham appeared happy to sit back and catch us on the break, which is exactly what they did in the final minute of the first half. Alexandre Lacazette - playing in the number 10 role - found Hector Bellerin well inside the box. But when his cross was cut out, the hosts sprang forward, outnumbered us and finished through Harry Kane.

 

There was a further blow as Partey was injured in the build-up and had to be replaced by Dani Ceballos.

 

It was a similar story of attack versus defence in the second half, we were camped inside the opposition half but struggled to convert possession into goals.

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed a fantastic Kieran Tierney cross over before Lacazette saw his own headed effort clawed away low down by Hugo Lloris.

 

In fact we sent more than 25 crosses into the box from open play, but found the Tottenham defence difficult to break down.

 

The result leaves us in the wrong half of the table, and winless in our last four league games.

 

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

 

For a full play-by-play account of the north London derby, click here.

 

 

 

TEAM NEWS

 

The big pre-match news was the return of Thomas Partey in midfield, after he missed four games with a thigh strain picked up against Aston Villa a month ago. Alexandre Lacazette retained his place after a strong showing in midweek against Rapid Vienna, with Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock the players missing out from our last league game against Wolves. The third change from last weekend's defeat to Wolves was Rob Holding in for David Luiz in defence.

 

 

 

WHAT IT MEANS

 

Premier League Table

 

WHAT's NEXT

 

We conclude our Europa League group stage with a trip to Dundalk, Ireland on Thursday - looking to make it six wins out of six in the competition - before Premier League football resumes at the Emirates on Sunday against Burnley.

 

 

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