Five things that are now so clear to Mikel Arteta after Arsenal win the North London Derby
Arsenal emerged victorious in the North London derby as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Tottenham away from home.
On paper, Arsenal headed to N17 with less confidence than desired as a result of an injury-stricken international break.
Arteta lost his captain prior to the fixture, with Riccardo Calafiori also ruled out due to injury however, that didn’t derail Arsenal’s plans.
The Gunners beat Spurs on their own turf for the third consecutive season, as Gabriel Magalhaes scored the decisive goal to decide the direction of the three points.
Five things that were made clear to Mikel Arteta against Tottenham
Martin Odegaard’s pressing is key
It was always going to be a challenge for Arsenal to travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without their captain, as Martin Odegaard was forced to sit out the fixture due to injury.
What was seen in the Norwegian’s absence wasn’t so much his creative influence, but his leadership when it comes to pressing the opposition.
The midfielder consistently shows an exemplary level of pressing, making it harder for those against him to play out from the back, something that was absent against Spurs.
Gabriel Martinelli played a crucial role
It certainly wasn’t Gabriel Martinelli’s best game in an Arsenal shirt, but equality, it wasn’t his worst.
The Brazilian is lacking confidence in the final third however, that didn’t stop him being incredibly impactful both defensively and when it came to keeping hold of possession.
Many will call for the winger to be axed due to his lack of conviction when in the final third but on an occasion like the North London derby, his defensive contribution and willingness to get back should be applauded.
Jurrien Timber’s injury hasn’t slowed him down
So frequently we see the devastating impact of an ACL blow hindering the spark that a player can produce.
For Jurrien Timber, this thankfully is not the case, as the Dutchman was one of the best players on the pitch against Spurs.
From his reaction time to his desire to move up and down the flank, the 23-year-old was electrifying against the Lilywhites, starring on an occasion that couldn’t be more important for the Gunners.
David Raya saved Arsenal from first half humiliation
The win took the attention away from Arsenal’s first half struggles, which were nullified by the influence of birthday boy David Raya.
Raya made two stellar saves in the first half to keep Spurs at bay, ultimately keeping his side in the game to allow for the three points to be carried back to N5.
It’s been a sensational start to the season for Raya, who after a good first year at the Emirates, seems to have taken things to the next level in 2024/25.
Can’t rely on Jorginho or Thomas Partey
In less positive news comes the subject of Arsenal’s midfield, which was always going to be a talking point after the derby.
The win will cloud judgement although, the ageing pivot of Thomas Partey and Jorginho cannot be ignored, with the pairing simply unsustainable.
Thankfully, Declan Rice will return from suspension to face Manchester City although, the lack of pace and stature of the duo in the middle of the park should cause Arteta’s alarm bells to ring with a thought to the future.
