Crunch time EPL 3/5-3/7
- Thread starter Luis Taint
- Start date
Spurs XI as expected, with Dembele and Alli back in the side.
First EPL start for Elneny, quite a time for it. Wegner clearly wants some more strength in center midfield and doesn't trust Ramsey in the #8 role.
If Spurs win they go top for the first time this late in the season since 1965.
COYS.
First EPL start for Elneny, quite a time for it. Wegner clearly wants some more strength in center midfield and doesn't trust Ramsey in the #8 role.
If Spurs win they go top for the first time this late in the season since 1965.
COYS.
Spurs are out-Arsenaling Arsenal. Dominating the game, having all the big chances, but then misplaying something simple (in this case, a throw-in) and they're down 1-0.
Beautiful flick by Ramsey though, and excellent awareness by Welbeck.
Beautiful flick by Ramsey though, and excellent awareness by Welbeck.
Lovely finish from Ramsey, but otherwise Arsenal's lead is totally undeserved. Spurs totally dominated the first half hour, and Arsenal's goal was their first shot on target.
Danny Rose in particular has been excellent. Nobody on Arsenal is tracking his runs until he gets to the fullback, which means he's always the out ball. The stat that shows the flow of the game is that Spurs have had 8 throw-ins on the left side: they keep attacking down that side through Rose, but Arsenal keep putting the ball out of play.
For Spurs, Alli and Eriksen have underwhelmed. Alli is overdribbling, trying to beat 2-3 defenders several times. Eriksen's positioning has been very good but his final ball has ben poor, and he's wasted a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions. Dembele has been very good, the best midfield player on show.
Welbeck has played well, his strength and pace gives Arsenal a different dimension. Alexis has been totally anonymous; he's mostly put in a shift defensively on Walker (compare how much space Walker has been given with Rose on the other side), but he's done nothing going forward.
Arsenal's issue tactically is that neither their CBs or their two CMs are especially good passers. They miss Cazorla a lot, and even Koscielny, who is a better passer than Mertesacker and Gabriel -- without them they have no one to spread the ball around, distribute play, switch the point of attack, bring the ball out from the back, etc.. The result is that Ozil has to drop too deep to get the ball, often picking up the ball near the halfway line where's he's a lot less dangerous. When they can get the ball with possession in the final third they look dangerous, but they are struggling to do that.
Danny Rose in particular has been excellent. Nobody on Arsenal is tracking his runs until he gets to the fullback, which means he's always the out ball. The stat that shows the flow of the game is that Spurs have had 8 throw-ins on the left side: they keep attacking down that side through Rose, but Arsenal keep putting the ball out of play.
For Spurs, Alli and Eriksen have underwhelmed. Alli is overdribbling, trying to beat 2-3 defenders several times. Eriksen's positioning has been very good but his final ball has ben poor, and he's wasted a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions. Dembele has been very good, the best midfield player on show.
Welbeck has played well, his strength and pace gives Arsenal a different dimension. Alexis has been totally anonymous; he's mostly put in a shift defensively on Walker (compare how much space Walker has been given with Rose on the other side), but he's done nothing going forward.
Arsenal's issue tactically is that neither their CBs or their two CMs are especially good passers. They miss Cazorla a lot, and even Koscielny, who is a better passer than Mertesacker and Gabriel -- without them they have no one to spread the ball around, distribute play, switch the point of attack, bring the ball out from the back, etc.. The result is that Ozil has to drop too deep to get the ball, often picking up the ball near the halfway line where's he's a lot less dangerous. When they can get the ball with possession in the final third they look dangerous, but they are struggling to do that.
Good post and great analysis. I agree. Arsenal has been outplayed (except maybe the last five minutes of the half).
What a boneheaded challenge. Spurs have all ready been carrying the play. Just gotta see if they can get 2 now with the advantage.
Wow. Spurs now robbed twice on great saves by Ospina
Wow. Spurs now robbed twice on great saves by Ospina
Deserved equalizer. I just don't think Arsenal have the mentality to play 35 minutes a man down without giving up a goal.
Dier is lucky not to be off there, though I think Giroud clocking him in the face had something to do with it.
Maybe should have been a second yellow on Bellerin too...
EDIT: I should say that I far prefer Michael Oliver to any other EPL referee. He's not perfect, but seems far more consistent than anyone else.
EDIT: I should say that I far prefer Michael Oliver to any other EPL referee. He's not perfect, but seems far more consistent than anyone else.
Well, now both teams got away with a shirt pull that could have been a second yellow.
And that would have been one of the all-time greatest own-goals ever...
And that would have been one of the all-time greatest own-goals ever...
What a game. Arsenal surprisingly played significantly better down to 10 men than they did at full strength (the two quick goals notwithstanding).
Being 2-1 up against 10 men and not winning is rough. Spurs looked a little flat in the last 20 minutes.
On one hand, yes, because there's a point lost. But on the other hand, if Arsenal won Leicester would've had a chance to go 6 points clear (rather than 5), and Spurs' superior goal difference would've been chipped away at a bit. Right?
Well, I made that post when Arsenal equalized, which was much better for Leicester than a Spurs win.
When did the term "bottling" become a thing? I've only been following club soccer for three years, and it seems like it is a recent thing.
The term 'bottle' to mean nerve/courage is as old as the hills* as is the term to bottle it. It's usually applied to Arsenal in the last quarter of a season. it may be from cockney slang, bottle and glass, lose your arse.
http://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-200505,00.html
edit. wrote first sentence before googling.
Mahrez just grabbed his hamstring. That could be massive when it comes to their title chances.
Wow, they're leaving him on to try and work it out...
Wow, they're leaving him on to try and work it out...