 |
| Rafael van der Vaart tormented Arsenal by scoring a brace |
The post-mortem into Arsenal's latest collapse is only just beginning after they threw away a 3-1 lead to draw at White Hart Lane.
There is so much to admire about this Arsenal team and most of it was evident here, but so too was the mental fragility which has not just marred this season but has punctuated the last several.
Comparisons with the 'Invincibles' team of 2003-04 are not helpful to the current team, but need to be made to show how far the club's standards have slipped.
A team with the likes of Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry would have squandered a two-goal lead once in a blue moon, but no lead seems to be safe with the current bunch.
That was highlighted in this season's 3-2 home loss to Spurs, the incredible four-goal lead they lost at Newcastle and in this latest example at White Hart Lane.
What will hurt Arsenal fans most will be that the title has been there for the taking this term, with Manchester United rarely winning away from home and Chelsea suffering a catalogue of problems.
They have thrown away so many points, with home losses to newly-promoted West Brom and Newcastle, the multiple-goal leads they have squandered and home draws with the likes of Blackburn, Sunderland and Liverpool.
Two of their most high-profile surrenders have came to their bitter rivals Spurs, another fact Arsenal fans will find it hard to ignore.
The average age of this Arsenal team is 24, but Arsene Wenger cannot use this as an excuse any longer.
 |
| Arsene Wenger's frustration grew as Tottenham got back into the game |
Trophies are needed now before Wenger becomes even more scrutinised by his own fans because as much as they love the football Arsenal play, nothing can beat the joy of winning things and toasting success.
From the outside, many would say Arsenal fans have nothing to complain about, that the football they see should be more than enough and finishing in the top four consistently is the envy of most other clubs.
But when a club becomes accustomed to success they want more and more.
No trophies in six years for a team who has qualified for the Champions League in each of them is not good enough for the fans as they see no physical success in return for all the money they receive through this qualification.
But enough about Arsenal's failings. This was a match to be enjoyed. Over-analysis would not do the game justice.
It really was a breathless contest, the sort of game which showcases the best the Premier League has to offer.
It was as end-to-end a game as you are ever likely to see and a draw was probably a fair result although it did neither side any real favours in their ultimate goals.
In a breathtaking start played at breakneck speed, Arsenal quickly took the lead after Cesc Fabregas' magnificent though ball left Theo Walcott one-on-one with Heurelho Gomes, with the Englishman coolly slotting the ball home.
It was the kind of finish Walcott missed too often in the past and this goal may represent the new Theo Walcott, cool and composed in front of goal.
The lead didn't last long, though.
No sooner had Arsenal finished celebrating than Wojciech Szczesny was picking the ball out of his net.
 |
| van der Vaart took the shot on early to catch Szczesny unawares |
On 12 minutes, Samir Nasri's shot from just outside the penalty area took a slight deflection to beat Gomes, although the Brazilian will be disappointed he didn't keep it out.
 |
| Nasri celebrates putting Arsenal back in front |
The way the game was going, it was something of a surprise it took until five minutes before half-time for the next goal.
 |
| Robin van Persie's goal appeared to hand Arsenal a two-goal half-time lead |
The scoring for the half wasn't over there though, with Tom Huddlestone's magnificent long-range shot leaving Szczesny with no chance.
It took until the 70th minute for Spurs to find their leveller after Szczesny showed his inexperience and fouled Aaron Lennon in the box.
van der Vaart's composed penalty left the Pole with little chance and the Dutchman's second of the game may turn out to be the goal that finally eliminates Arsenal from the title race.
Both sides had further chances in the game, with Szczesny making some crucial saves from Luka Modric and Peter Crouch, while Theo Walcott had a number of chances at the other end.
Tottenham could have had a penalty in the first half after Johan Djourou blocked the run of Modric but referee Martin Atkinson coped well with the pressure-cooker atmosphere overall.
It would have been harsh for either side to lose this game as both provided great entertainment in a true classic.
Something about this fixture just seems to bring out the best (and worst) in both sides.
Defensive responsibilities get thrown out of the window as both team go for broke, with recent classics including 2008's 4-4 draw, 2004's 5-4 Arsenal win, last year's 3-2 Tottenham comeback and this 3-3 draw.
Arsenal are now six points behind Manchester United with five games to go and have now fallen behind Chelsea, while Tottenham missed the chance to go level on points with Manchester City in fourth place, so the real winners of this breathless game were from Manchester.
Cesc Fabregas ran the show for much of the game, while Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri were also particularly impressive, but these individual displays can not mask the inefficiencies of this Arsenal side.
 |
| Cesc Fabregas does not seem to be a natural leader |
Cesc Fabregas is the captain but he is not the sort of character you would expect to inspire the team with his words.
There are no other inspirational figures in the team. Jack Wilshere could develop into a future captain but no-one else seems capable of motivating their team-mates.
Long gone are the days where the likes of Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira would drive the Gunners on. They need a figure like this to help guide the inexperienced members of the side through difficult periods in games, otherwise the surrendering of leads under pressure will only become more common.
 |
| Gareth Bale was withdrawn at half-time after being injured in a clash with Wojciech Szczesny |
He hasn't been on form for much of 2011 but showed the form he was showing in early-season to terrorise Arsenal.
He lined up in an unfamiliar wide right role but drifted inside at every opportunity to make Gael Clichy's job a torturous one. He reaffirmed his status as one of the bargains of the season with this performance and appears to be fully fit just when Tottenham need him most.
It will be an uphill task for Spurs to qualify for the Champions League again this season but if they show the kind of attacking flair and cutting edge they did here, they will have a chance.
The game really did make for gripping viewing, with two exciting sides slugging it out.
But Arsene Wenger will not have enjoyed it as the frailties of his team were again magnified as much as their strengths.
Wenger again cut an agitated figure on the touchline as the realisation kicked in that another trophy was slowly slipping from his grasp.
Yet another lead had been lost and there was little the Frenchman could do to stop it. His side lacks steel and he knows it, but he only has himself to blame because of his lack of activity in the transfer market.
Arsenal's recent mental problems can be traced back to the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, which the Gunners seemed to think was won before they had even played it.
 |
| Arsenal's Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham has acted as the catalyst for their recent struggles |
There was a sense of injustice as they went out of the Champions League to Barcelona, a case of what might have been as they lost in the FA Cup to Manchester United and now a great deal of frustration that time is running out for them to launch a comeback in the title race.
They are on a 16-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, but far too many games in this spell have been draws and they are what have really derailed the title bid.
Every time they have been given an opportunity to close the gap by Manchester United, they have blown it, and they now find themselves behind Chelsea in third place.
Tottenham and Arsenal both deserve tremendous credit for providing such a breathtaking spectacle but both Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger will be pondering what might have been had they won the game.
It was another North London derby to go into the archive marked 'classics', but will be particularly concerning for Wenger as it seemed inevitable his side would not hold onto a two-goal lead.
It is a game that will live long in the memory, but yet another one Arsene Wenger will quickly want to forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment