13 Tottenham managers have come and gone and none have managed to finish above us ever since Arsene Wenger took charge. This was his 700th PL game in charge and a win would have been a perfect gift for the landmark. We were again without our talisman Alexis Sanchez and also Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. It was expected that we would continue with the same team that thrashed Villa. However Arsene handed a start to fit again Danny Welbeck who replaced Walcott. The rest of the team would be the same and as yet Ospina hadn't conceded a PL goal.
Arsenal were ahead inside two minutes on their last visit to White Hart Lane, a stunning Rosicky goal. This time they had to wait an extra nine minutes to take the lead. Welbeck using sheer pace went through the Tottenham defence and cut the ball to Giroud, who mishit his shot. But that became a pass and an open goal for Ozil, who made no mistake. His 3rd goal in same number of matches. Arsenal much like how they played at Etihad were dropping deep before going on the counter attack. Harry Kane showed why he is so highly rated with a shot which Ospina had to divert from reaching the corner of the goal. Soon Danny Rose who was guilty of being beaten too easily for Arsenal's goal produced a decent save off Ospina. Arsenal were playing too deep and Spurs were pressing high up the pitch. All this was ending up with Spurs winning the ball in dangerous positions and testing Ospina who was looking very uneasy with his handling. Normally very assured with the ball Ospina seemed like there was some sort of a problem with him. Still we ended the half leading, probably not deservedly.
Arsenal started the 2nd half better, Cazorla brought a good save out of Lloris. Harry Kane then equalized after Ospina initially saved Eric Diers headed attempt and the ball dropped to Kane. Suddenly Tottenham grew in stature testing Ospina who made a decent save off Dembele. We were struggling to get control of the game. But suddenly Welbeck got through and had a curling effort well saved by Lloris. From the resulting corner Koscielny headed straight at Lloris. As the match was reaching it's conclusion, Bentaleb floated a cross that Kane headed brilliantly to give Spurs the lead. Arsenal still had one last chance when Rosicky played Walcott through but he could not get the ball under control. The match finished 2-1 and Spurs went above us in the table for the time being atleast.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7): A lot may argue he made some fantastic saves, but he lacked conviction in his handling and also while saving he started putting the ball in danger areas which ultimately was how Kane scored his first.
39: Hector Bellerin (5): Struggled to defend properly and was exposed repeatedly by Rose.
4: Per Mertesacker (5): Very poor performance and he did not show interest in the 2nd goal when he actually could have.
6: Laurent Koscielny (6.5): Did not do much wrong.
18: Nacho Monreal (7): Was doing his part quiet well. Shut out Walker and Lamela for most part of the game.
34: Francis Coquelin (6): Started the game brightly but struggled when Spurs started putting pressure.
19: Santi Cazorla (6.5): Was handled very well by the Tottenham midfield.
16: Aaron Ramsey (4): Very poor performance. Gave the ball away 7 times. Shocking.
23: Danny Welbeck (7.5): Covered a lot of ground and in an attacking sense our best performer.
11: Mesut Ozil (7): Put a lot of effort once again and a very decent finish for the goal as well.
12: Olivier Giroud (5): Hardly did anything in the entire match. Was kept very quiet by the Spurs defence.
SUBSTITUTES:
7: Tomas Rosicky (7): Upped the tempo after he came on and put a dew decent passes.
38: Chuba Akpom (6): Came to aid Giroud in attack. Did not do too much.
14: Theo Walcott (N/A): Had one decent chance.