White Hart Lane (Premier League)
Arsenal: Rosicky 2′
Player Ratings – Match Highlights – Wenger’s Press Conference
The Gunners went into the game on the end of quite an appalling record in White Hart Lane, with just one victory in their last eight games.
Arsene Wenger opted for the same team that gave a good account of themselves in Germany with the only exception being a returning Kieran Gibbs ahead of Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal were the quickest off the blocks when the Ox and Tomas Rosicky combined well to launch an attack from the right. After the Ox miscontrolled the ball, Rosicky lashed an unstoppable shot past Hugo Lloris.
Arsenal’s defence went to sleep as Sandro dinked a neat ball to Emmanuel Adebayor but he couldn’t get the ball under control. Shortly afterwards, Giroud got a kick to his face by Jan Vertonghen.
Arsenal would have been two up when the Ox went clear of Nabil Bentaleb and suddenly he was one on one with Lloris. He had the option of feeding Lukas Podolski or going round the goalie but he inexplicably chose to chip the goalie and wasted the glorious chance.
Giroud was sent through on goal but Lloris took the role of a sweeper and got to the ball before his compatriot. Tottenham launched an attack through Andros Townsend but nobody capitalised on his drill across the face of goal.
In the wake of some officiating decisions this season, Bacary Sagna could consider himself lucky to stay on the pitch when he lounged at a player after losing the ball. Sandro attempted another chip to Adebayor but he was riled offside.
Santi Cazorla teed up Podolski who in turn drilled The ball across goal to Rosicky’s direction but the ball feel kindly to the Ox that blasted a shot that was deflected wide. Podolski smashed a ferocious drive from an acute angle a la Bayern Munich but his shot hit the side netting.
At the start of the second half, Szczesny showed off his erratic side as he failed to deal with crosses into his box and he had Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker to thank as they blocked a shot off the line.
Tottenham continued to use the wings but their passes in the final third were not converted. Wenger summoned the services of Mathieu Flamini in Rosicky’s stead to ads steel to the midfield.
Arsenal had a claim for a penalty turned down and PM4 fired a one-timed shot straight at Lloris. The Verm came in for Chamberlain as Wenger signalled his intentions of holding on to the narrow lead he had.
At the sound of the ref’s whistle, the Gunners were in celebratory mood as Podolski ran to mix up with the fans. There was even time for Szczesny and Gibbs to take a selfie and the narrow victory proved that the Gunners aren’t out of the title challenge just yet.
All thanks to the superb goal by Rosicky. A player that really deserves to lift that trophy.
The last time we won 3 times in one season vs Spurs was back in 88/89 and we lost on opening day to Villa but we won the title in the end.
I love such omens.
Sayonara
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