Premier League 2018/19: Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points from Wembley
Matchday 28 of the Premier League kicked off with a 1-1 draw in the North London Derby with Aaron Ramsey and Harry Kane getting on the scoresheet.
Arsenal were defensive for most parts of the first half as they looked to hit Tottenham on the counter. The Gunners took the lead against the run of play as Aaron Ramsey rounded Hugo Lloris in the 16th minute. Emery's game plan worked to perfection in the first half as Arsenal made it difficult for Spurs' forwards to influence the game.
Alexander Lacazette squandered an easy chance in the early stages of the second and Arsenal were made to pay for the missed chance as Harry Kane's penalty brought Spurs level in the derby. The visitors had a chance to secure all three points in the dying stages of the game, but Aubameyang saw his penalty saved by Hugo Lloris.
In this article, we take a look at the five talking points from an intense North London Derby.
#5 Emery gets his tactics spot on against Spurs
Eyes were raised prior to the game with regards to Unai Emery's team selection. The former PSG manager started with a back four; comprising of Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis, and Nacho Monreal. The midfield consisted of Xhaka and Guendouzi, with Lucas Torreira on the bench to the dismay of many fans. Alexandre Lacazette spearheaded the attack, as Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil did not get a start.
Arsenal looked solid from kickoff as they defended in numbers and looked to hit Tottenham on the counter. Emery's decision to play Mustafi at right-back proved to be a shrewd one as the German dealt with Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen with confidence.
The midfield duo of Xhaka and Guendouzi started off in bright fashion as the duo blocked off all passing lanes which did not allow Eriksen and Son to link up with Harry Kane. Arsenal did not go gung-ho with their pressing and their smart counter press forced Sissoko and Wanyama to misplace many passes or make incorrect decisions in vital areas of the pitch.
The likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi deserve credit for tracking back and keeping Arsenal's defensive shape intact. Emery's men stuck to their gameplan and made life hard for their opponents
A lapse from Mustafi saw Spurs awarded a penalty which was calmly slotted by Harry Kane in the 74th minute. Overall, Emery got his tactics right, due to which his side could contain a dangerous Spurs outfit. Barring a few individual errors, the Gunners could have emerged with all three points.