Arsenal Slam The Door On Keane & Co.
Arsenal reaffirmed the distinct gulf of class between North London’s finest, as a quick-fire double from Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas on the stroke of half time provided the platform for a resounding 3-0 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The victory saw Arsene Wenger become only the second manager in Premiership history to reach the 1,000 points mark, as well as ensure that Robbie Keane’s claims that Spurs’ could now match Arsenal were quelled in a more than adequate fashion.
However, Harry Redknapp may argue that the result flattered the Gunners; his side defended resolutely for the opening forty-two minutes of the contest, but subsequently capitulated on the border line of the interval.
French full-back Bacary Sagna fed Robin van Persie who slotted the ball underneath Heurelho Gomes’ feeble attempt at blocking the Dutchman’s effort.
The Brazilian stoppers’ comedy ‘keeping seemed to be instantaneously infectious from the resulting kick off, as Fabregas stole the ball from the usually possession thrifty Wilson Palacios before proceeding to dance his way through a stagnant defence. Ultimately this culminated in Gomes’ picking the ball out of his net for the second time in forty seconds.
Anyone who has previously question the Spaniards’ committment to the Gunners would be wisely advised to select their words carefully; Fabregas’ exhuberent celebrations spoke volumes as he raced towards the Arsenal fans, acknowledging that a fatal blow had been to dealt to the heart of their fierce adversaries.
Despite holding a two goal advantage at the break, Redknapp would have been keen to remind his team that the Gunners’ let slip a lead of the same advantage at Upton Park in their previous fixture against West Ham.
But the faint hopes of a revival on a ground where Arsenal have been scoring for fun this season were well and truly wiped out when Mark Clattenburg played an advantage to the home-side as Spurs waited for play to be stopped after an over-zealous challenge by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
With the defence static yet again, Sagna played creator for the second time in the contest, his cross allowed van Persie to tap in from 6-yards right on the hour mark.
It would be fair to say that the absences of Jermain Defoe (suspended), Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric (both injured), did little to back up Robbie Keane’s claims that his team contained more strength in depth than Arsenal.
The visitors always lacked a vital cutting edge going forward – perhaps comparible with that of Liverpool when Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are absent from the starting XI.
The restoration of David Bentley to the starting lineup did little to provide the missing link in the Spurs’ offence, and the former Gunners’ man was ridiculed at every touch of the ball by a sell out crowd.
The former England star was lucky to be on the pitch after as few as ten minutes had passed.
A derisory challenge on Belgian centre half Thomas Vermaelen and the deliberate handling of a clearance served as evidence that Bentley was to be the great Houdini of Clattenburg’s book this afternoon.
However, Bentley did also contribute positively to the visitors cause, the returning Manuel Almunia was forced to acrobatically deny the midfielders curling free kick, tipping over the bar.
The loss of Nicklas Bendtner during the first half will have come as a blow to Wenger, who is now set to be without the Dane for “a while”. The tall striker was selected ironically for the presence he would provide defensively at set pieces to mute the threat of Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King and Wilson Palacios, until a groin injury saw him replaced by Eduardo.
The Croatian – rarely wasteful in front of goal – spurned two one-on-one’s with Gomes’ midway through the second half, as Arsenal indulged in their usual passing party pieces with the safety net of a three goal cushion.
However, the damage limitation tactics of Spurs’ would see that insult would not be added to injury as they rode out the final half an hour in which their supporters used wisely, preferring to fervently clamber for the exit rather than listen to the insufferable jeers from the home fans.
Arsenal host AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday night where they can seal qualification for the second phase, whilst next up for Spurs is the visit of Steve Bruce’s slick Sunderland side on Saturday.
FINAL SCORE: Arsenal 3 – 0 Tottenham
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas (c), Arshavin (Eboue 77), Bendtner (Eduardo 36), van Persie (Ramsey 85)
Unused Subs: Mannone, Senderos, Nasri, Gibbs
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka (Hutton 85), King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone (Bale 54), Palacios, Jenas, Keane (Pavlyuchenko 64), Crouch
Unused Subs: Button, Dawson, Kranjcar, Woodgate
