EPL 2017/18: Arsenal vs Tottenham: 5 Talking Points 

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier LeagueArsenal won the battle for North London supremacy with a comfortable 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, that took them to only 1 point behind their rivals in the table.

Shkodran Mustafi opened the scoring with a towering header in the 36th minute, before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 in the 41st minute.

Here are the major talking points from the game:


#1 Tottenham felt the absence of Toby Alderweireld deeply

Tottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League

The problem with such a well-oiled, slick machine that is Tottenham Hotspur is that when a single cog breaks, things can fall apart rather easily.

That is precisely what happened today, as Eric Dier looked uncomfortable in the heart of defence alongside Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez as the replacement for the injured Toby Alderweireld. Dier was culpable of slowing down when Alexis charged to the near post to score the second goal, something Alderweireld would also not have been guilty off.

The Belgian might also may have made a difference for Mustafi's opening goal, although Arsenal are the best in the air in the Premier League. Yes, really:

Dier's move into defence also unbalanced the Spurs midfield, which allowed the duo of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey to deal with Sossoko and Dembele with ease.

#2 Mesut Ozil's best performance in an Arsenal shirt

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

Mesut Ozil perhaps had his best game ever in an Arsenal shirt, and ironically for the Gunners, it comes at a time when he is 42 days away from confirming a contract with another club. That the German does not perform in big games is bit of a myth, as Ozil is heavily dependant on how the rest of his teammates perform.

With Xhaka, Ramsey, Bellerin and Kolasinac providing a barrier and a platform, Ozil wreaked havoc and even married it to plenty of grit and effort. It might even have been planned:

A stunning 90 minutes followed, where Ozil shoved the idea that he is not a big game player firmly up his critics posterior opening. His numbers truly do not lie, and Arsenal ought to really make a last-ditch attempt to keep him.

#3 Arsene Wenger is not having any talk of a 'power shift'

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

For all of his faults, Arsene Wenger gets things right when playing Tottenham Hotspur more often than not. The Frenchman vehemently denied the idea that Arsenal were underdogs going into the game, and then went on to prove it.

The 0-0 against Chelsea proved a foundation for Wenger to work with, and the 5-2 against Everton gave him his attacking quartet. Arsenal could have comfortably won this game by a larger margin and credit goes to Wenger for making the right decisions - in the face of the negative atmosphere surrounding the club.

Tottenham remain trophyless in the last 4 years, a period in which Arsenal have won 3 FA Cups. Simply challenging for the title is not enough, and while Spurs may momentarily have the better side in North London, the proof can only come through silverware.

Power shift? Have a look....

#4 Mauricio Pochettino still has much to learn

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

Having been forced to change the personnel for his system, Mauricio Pochettino could be forgiven for going with a circumspect midfield of both Moussa Dembele and Moussa Sissoko. However, with Arsenal nervous going into the game, playing Heung-Min Son would have placed the Gunners under early pressure, as the Korean showed in the game against Liverpool.

Instead, Arsenal were allowed to dominate the middle of the park, with the Gunners having the impetus. Pochettino's struggle to change things around when things do not go right from the start ensures that his record against big teams will continue to be bad.

Fernando Llorente and Son actually caused Arsenal some trouble in the final few minutes, and perhaps if they were brought on earlier, things could have been made different.

#5 Is the Emirates a fortress now?

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

As Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur are finding out to their detriment, moving to a new stadium is a tough task, as home advantage tends to go out of the window. Arsenal felt the same when they moved to the Emirates, and it has taken a decade for the stadium to finally feel like home.

What makes it better? Tottenham absolutely *hate* coming to Arsenal's home ground. Spurs have only won 2 of the last 33 games away to the Gunners.

The Gunners ambitions for the season may depend on their home form, and they really have taken a big step in ensuring that their home ground is now a fortress. Things are looking up.

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Edited by Sunaadh Sagar