After Mark Clattenburg's whistle blew to end the final six
minutes of stoppage time, it could be said the home fans at White Hart Lane
breathed a collective sigh of relief before any celebratory motions were
conducted.
Whilst the victory meant Spurs continued the clubs yearly-undefeated
streak, overtaking European champions Chelsea and cementing third place, Spurs
fans had a completely different accolade on their mind. With the 2-1 win,
Tottenham head into the final ten games of the season seven points ahead of
their detested rivals, and in doing so have given the Blue and White folk of
North London the best chance in 16 years of finally at seasons end, peering down at Arsenal.
Going into the match, recent contests between the two indicated
towards a looming shoot-out of sorts. With the past years score lines more
resemblant of a baseball match (the last two alone featuring 14 goals), a match
possibly determined by the performance of keepers Lloris and Szczesny could
have been expected.
Yet with Arsenal defending high up the park and Tottenham's
four man defence assisted by two defensive midfielders, the aforementioned
scores didn’t seem anywhere near eventuating.
Add muted performances of both side’s lone strikers, and for
the first half hour the ambition of scoring nowhere near reward to other for
the risk of conceding in such a hostile, significant fixture.
When Walker and Dawson weren't intersecting Wilshere's barrage
of through balls from the edge of the box, Tottenham's midfield were showing no
real determination to get behind a high defensive Arsenal line showing signs of
vulnerability. On the rare occasions Arsenal did breakthrough, Giroud
consistently erred on decisions with poor touches and mistimed shots creating
no threat to fellow French international Lloris' goal. On the other end of the
pitch Adebayor seemed more focused on injuring or getting injured. The striker earning
jeers from both sides of the crowd after an obvious fall during a Spurs set
piece, followed by a yellow card and a warning from Clattenburg that a red wasn’t
far off for a dangerous tackle on Vermaelen.
Yet with a player of such talent and form as to be targeted
for Real Madrid's post season revolution orchestrating play in the middle of
the pitch, a score was always going to eventuate and in 36th minute White Hart
Lane became a cauldron of noise.
Verthongen perhaps a little too easily swept through the midfield
to expertly dissect the Arsenal defence and send a rushing Bale through on
goal.
Though with only the keeper to beat, the Welshman still had
it all to do. With his torso still turning to be faced on goal, a storming Szczesny
coming at him from the front and Vermaelen steps behind, Bale had only a short
amount of space and time to convert. Doing what he has all season however Bale
found the net with a touch of upmost finesse, his left boot poking the ball
through on goal, sending the crowd, and the ever growing hype surrounding his
ability into raptures.
In a season that had provided, a loss to lower tier Bradford
City and Blackburn Rovers, as well as a humbling at home to almost guarantee
another round of 16 UCL knockout, whether or not the likelihood of seven points
estranged from their bitter rivals could be considered Arsenal's fans low point
is debatable. Regardless, that point would need to be refigured once more when Aaron
Lennon, on the receiving end of a brilliant Parker through-ball went in on a
goal identical to Bales opener, strolling past Szczesny for a second two
minutes later.
At this point all momentum was with Spurs with the
likelihood of a third before the half not all that implausible, Moussa Dembele
in particular making a mockery of the Vermaelen led defence.
With the half ending in twenty pass Tottenham possession, to
the tune of 'Spurs go Marching' in you could almost forgive the jubilant spurs
fans for forgetting their was another forty-five minutes and celebrating as if
the scoreline was conclusive.
Yet in the back of their minds surely retained was the
fateful day last February when Spurs, holding the same lead capitulated to lose
5-2. Still scorned by rivals fans today, that famous Emirates collapse was a
symbol (and believed beginning) for the tumultuous demise Spurs suffered during
the final stages of last season ruining an almost certain Champions league spot
and what was Harry Redknapp's beloved coaching tenure.
Such a nightmare would have only been further reiterated five
minutes from the retstart when a malicious Walcott challenge on a storming
Wilshere led to a free kick on the left of the penalty area. A resulting Mertesaker
header (with a slight deflection from Bale) pulled one back for the Gunners,
and the north western stands of the away section were loudest once again, as the
crippling fear of another Hotspur collapse loomed large.
Yet, to most fans delight Arsenal's early resurgence didn't
threaten AVB's men,
as Lennon and Dembele combined to constantly frustrate
Vermaelen down the right wing. When Sigurdsson through on goal with only Szczesny
to beat who mistakenly passed (further proving Bales skill in his earlier goal),
it was fair to think it was Spurs chasing the elusive equaliser.
Brining Rosický on for
Jenkinson, Arsenal did make one last concerted effort to tie things up, yet admirably
Spurs hung on, Arsenal's attack just not determined, or skilled enough on the
night to get past a Champions League worthy defence, that has earned its place
in the higher realms of the EPL.
Where to for Arsenal from here is anyone’s guess. Take a
full strength team to Bayern and hope for a modern miracle? Or accept another round
of 16 knock out in the chase for fourth place and the chance take part again
next year. To some the latter is fast becoming a redundant exercise, the
argument being continuous qualification is just leading to continuous failure
to reach anywhere near the later stages of the tournament.
For Tottenham the outlook is promising, undefeated in 12, a
midfield led by the hottest player in the country and an undefeated record they
haven’t matched in 28 years. Whether or not that can be maintained for final
three months of the season is not certain, but for now, and evidently the past three
months the pride of North London is most certainly, Blue and White.
FOR ARSENAL
WHOS HOT?
Jack Wilshere.
Further proving
he is a definite future No.10 for club and country, he was a shining light for
Arsenal providing chance after chance and a constant headache for Spurs on the
edge of their box.
WHOS NOT?
Aaron Ramsey.
Constantly chasing never had any chance of taking Lennon's
pace and resorted to poor fouls when beaten.
Per Mertesacker.
His second half goal was still not enough to hide his
defensive incapability’s, too old and slow and to play in such a high defensive
line.
FOR TOTTENHAM
WHO'S HOT?
Gareth Bale
The man is a revelation; even his mistakes were genius with
many touches that resulted in lost possession on the cusp of brilliance almost
creating certain goal scoring chances. How spurs hold onto him is going to be hard.
Moussa Dembele.
A constant source of attack in midfield he can shoot, cross
or walk through two or three defenders before passing off to turn chances
previously as hopeful into full blown attacking options.
WHOS NOT?
Emmanuelle Adebayor.
Unfocused, Uncaring, unprofessional. Doesn't seem to care
about the match, or result instead focusing on petty feuds and a never-ending
battle with Arsenal players and fans. Needs to go.
By Eli Mengem.
