It’s been a long wait but I’m back blogging because I now have my new laptop due to my old one not being fixed by a certain company whose name I will not give. Anyway it feels great to be back and to kick-start the blogging I think a review of the North London derby between Arsenal and Spurs should be done as it was cracking entertainment.
It was the day’s big game barring the League Cup final and plenty of hype surrounded the game. Tottenham a team in great form and hadn’t lost a Premier League game since playing Manchester City were playing against an inconsistent Arsenal that are hypothetically speaking out of all the trophies they are in and have no chance of winning the league. Tottenham, desperate for a win to pull 13 points clear of Arsenal and to keep up with the Manchester clubs, however Arsenal were desperate for a win to close the gap on Spurs to 7 points and to clinch that all important 4th spot.
Both teams had set out a strong team and surely enough the game proved to be a cracker. Within 3 minutes Spurs conjured up a speedy counter with Adebayor playing a through ball for Louis Saha to score his 3rd goal for Spurs with the aid of a heavy deflection. This was what started a rampage from Spurs and from another blistering counter attack Gareth Bale earned what was deemed to be a penalty by the ref, yet a closer look at replays seem to show Bale had dived. Despite this controversy the penalty was calmly dispatched by Adebayor who decided not to celebrate – unlike his antics when he played for Man City.
Looking down and out Arsenal looked like they were going to lose but in the 40th minute clever build up play led to Bacary Sagna heading home from Arteta’s beautifully flighted cross. This spurred – no pun intended – Arsenal into overdrive and on the 43rd minute Van Persie turned his defender and unleashed a brilliant left footed effort curling into Friedel’s top right corner. Another brilliant goal from Arsenal’s captain and talisman. Half time and Arsenal had pulled it back to 2-2 and the break had a huge impact on the second half.
Redknapp made two changes in order to retake the lead but disaster broke when Rosicky capitalised on some shabby defending and tapped home with the outside of his left foot in the 50th minute. Tottenham after this goal couldn’t mount a forceful attack on the Arsenal’s goal and yet when they did attack they lost the ball and were counter attacked. Robin Van Persie held the ball waiting for Walcott to run in, his touch took him a bit wide but he chipped the ball over a stranded Friedel making it 4-2 to Arsenal. 3 minutes later a super over the top through ball from Song meant Walcott was one on one with goalkeeper and he calmly smashed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 5-2.
Arsenal had the game wrapped up and was still creating chances to get another goal to add salt to the already deeply open Spurs wounds. It got even worse for Spurs as their engine Scott Parker was sent off for a second bookable offence and resulted in Spurs finishing the match with 10 men. The game finished 5-2 and the game provided excellent entertainment but for one reason, the defending was awful from both teams which meant the game was open which led to this 7 goal thriller.
This result puts Arsenal back into fourth as they managed to win by the 3 goals they needed to go above Chelsea on goals scored. However with Manchester City and Manchester United winning Spurs have now drifted 8pts behind United and 10 points behind City. Even though Arsenal are now only 7 points behind Spurs it should be difficult for them to take 3rd place off them.
Redknapp joked after the Stevenage FA Cup match that he shouldn’t get the England job for drawing 0-0, what’s his reaction to having the England job going to be now after this hammer blow? Both Arsenal and Spurs have tough fixtures next week which could determine their finishing place in the Premier League. Liverpool entertain Arsenal at Anfield and Spurs welcome last year’s champions United to White Hart Lane. Two tough games for both clubs and with Man City and Chelsea playing ‘easier’ teams they need to win in order to keep their hopes of getting a Champions League place for next season.
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