Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal: Five Talking Points

A hard-fought victory over their North-London rivals was enought to keep alive Arsenal's title hopes. On the back of Chelsea's defeat, it was imperative that Arsenal made the opportunity if they were to have any chance of silverware this season. And an early Tomas Rosicky goal was all that was needed for the Gunners to claim bragging rights until next season. Here are the five things that we learned from the game.

#1 Arsenal back in the title race

Arsenal bounced back from last weekend’s disappointing loss against Stoke with a clinical victory over their North London rivals. A result, that leaves their title credentials hanging by a thread. The victory means that the Gunners are only four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand. And with their next game away to Chelsea, it leaves everything hanging in the balance.

Win that game and the Gunners will just be a point behind with a game in hand. March was always going to be a season-defining month for the Gunners and should they emerge on top at the end of the month, they might well have a legitimate shot at the title.

#2 Where do Spurs go from here?

Things haven’t been going according to plan for Tim Sherwood for a long time now. After the initial run of victories wore off, his side have struggled. Not just in the League, but in Europe as well. It was their third defeat in their last four League games and it looks as though they might not make it into the Champions League. Although Spurs have looked solid at the back, their lack of creativity up front, continues to haunt them.

Although Adebayor did everything but score on Sunday, he didn’t have too much to work with. Given the fact that over a hundred million pounds were spent last summer to address the attack, it is somewhat shocking to find that the only player that really looks good is the one that might not be there this time next season.

#3 Arsenal\'s defense holds fort yet again

Before the start of the game, Tottenham had kept four clean sheets in their last five home games. And although Arsenal had only managed one shut-out in their last seven away games, they still had the third-best defense in the League. So, it was no surprise to note that it was the defenses that came out on top in this clash. Neither manager could afford to lose this game, as a result, caution was to be expected.

But, Rosicky’s goal barely a minute into the game, threw all the caution of the window and breached Spurs backline. For much of the first half, Spurs looked shaky at the back and it looked as though it was only a matter of time before Arsenal scored on the break. But as the game wore on, both defenses, Arsenal’s in particular showed just why they have received rave reviews for their defense. Koscielny put in a Man of the Match performance alongside Mertesacker who looks more and more like the giant he was, in Germany.

#4 Arsenal badly need a new striker

After starting the year in red hot form scoring eight goals in his first 12 games and helping Ramsey in particular have a breakthrough year, Olivier Giroud has stuttered. Since December, the Frenchman has found the back of the net just five times in 15 games. That coupled with Ramsey’s injury have meant that the Gunners have been struggling for goals.

For much of the game at White Hart Lane, Arsenal seemed to be playing with no strikers at all as Giroud was ineffective, tired and looked very ordinary indeed. With his better half, reportedly preferring to move back to France, this might just be the time for Wenger to go into the market and sign a truly world-class striker.

#5 What a difference a year makes

When you are winning, all is forgotten. But, when you are not, then, well. So, when André Villas-Boas, spoke about how Arsenal were in a "negative spiral" last year, it was alright, because Spurs were winning. And at that time, were seven point above their neighbors.

But this season, nothing has gone according to plan for Spurs. All the money spent on a replacement for Bale hasn’t gone according to plan. The manager was sacked and Tim Sherwood, after a great start, is struggling to get to grips with the grind of top-flight management. A year ago, not many would have predicted that Arsenal would still be in the title race by the end of April. Nor could they have predicted that AVB would be sacked, to be replaced by an Englishman, who looks out of his depth in crunch clashes. Such is the beauty of football that you never know what might happen next. Will Sherwood be there this time next year? Only time will tell