da dobrowin： Super Sunday was threatening to become a damp squib today after Manchester City and Aston Villa served up a thoroughly forgettable 0-0 draw, but we always knew the North London derby would come up trumps.
da betsul： The Gunners and the Lilywhites served up a pulsating 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium, which really entertained fans of the beautiful game being played the right way.
Okay, goals were not forthcoming, but the tactical approach from Spurs was spot on, before Arsenal finally managed to get themselves into gear to serve up a last 15 minute scramble.
So, what did we learn? Here are THREE things…
Tottenham have discovered a perfect midfield combo
If ever there was a game to heap praise on Dele Alli and Eric Dier it was this one. The Englishman and his French partner in crime have been getting a lot of praise of late, and even though some have suggested that it’s a little too soon to be talking them up as one of the best combos in the Premier League, they showed that they’re worthy of being in the conversation at the Emirates Stadium.
Throughout the 90 minutes the pair anchored the Lilywhites’ engine room expertly and used their physicality to overpower the likes of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, while also possessing the technical proficiency to feed the ball to their own attacking team-mates with pace and accuracy.
Mauricio Pochettino may have rather stumbled on this answer to his midfield problems, but they could.
Do Arsenal have the mentality of champions?
Well, do they? For so long the Gunners have been ridiculed for their soft spine and ability to fall to pieces when the going gets tough, but after being outplayed for 70 minutes at home to Spurs, they really upped the tempo late on to rescue a point.
Kieran Gibbs was the unlikeliest of unlikely goalscorers, but strange moments like this often characterise a team on the way to the title… Could it happen?
Arsenal deserve special praise after being batter by Bayern Munich in midweek, too.
Spurs are favourites for fourth spot…
It may be early (we have 26 of 38 games left for each side), but Spurs appear best placed to sneak into the top four this season. Chelsea’s woeful start has left the door wide open, and with Liverpool once again tripping over a Crystal Palace-shaped step, Tottenham’s point at Arsenal really looks impressive.
Leicester and West Ham remain above the Lilywhites in the battle right now, but is anyone expecting the Foxes or the Hammers to stay in the fight for the rest of the campaign?