What Ange Postecoglou thought was odd in Tottenham display vs Arsenal as two musts highlighted

There was to be more North London Derby heartache for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side on Sunday as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal. As has been the case numerous times during the Australian’s Spurs tenure, a set-piece proved to be their undoing.

Gabriel Magalhaes scored the crucial winner in the 64th minute as he powerfully headed home Bukayo Saka’s corner to win a third successive game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the Gunners. Prior to Arsenal’s goal, Tottenham had caused the visitors some issues but once again they struggled to create any meaningful clear-cut chances despite seeing so much of the ball.

In terms of the numbers from the game, Spurs had 15 shots compared to Arsenal’s seven and had five of those on target as the away side managed four. That has been the case for Spurs over the course of the season so far, with the previous defeat at Newcastle United a prime example after dominating large periods of the match at St James’ Park but ultimately not doing enough to claim the points.

Dominic Solanke’s absence certainly impacted Tottenham in the north east but the striker returned to the team against Arsenal and delivered a decent showing as he gave Spurs a much-needed presence up top. Going close with a looping header in the first half, Solanke was given a couple of openings in his 90 minutes but the crosses and final ball he required from his teammates was lacking throughout.

Tottenham really need things to click in the final third sooner rather than later after so far only hitting six goals in four Premier League games. Many will point to the fact that four of those goals came against a poor Everton side in last month’s victory in north London.

Postecoglou does have a host of attacking options to choose from and what may concern many is the lack of goals and also clear chances that they have been unable to produce. Speaking to the media in his post-match press conference, the 59-year-old was asked about the failure once again to create clear chances on goal.

“Yeah, to a certain extent,” he replied. “We had some good opportunities but we created so many more, we just wasted some of our good play.

“Similar to our other games where we haven’t really had that conviction in the front third to take advantage of, whether it’s us winning the ball back or getting into that front third and nothing coming of it. You keep opposition teams in the game when you do that.”

Spurs looked better for having an out-and-out striker in their side but Solanke was only limited to two shots on goal. Postecoglou felt there were “a lot of odd times” in the game where Tottenham lacked “a bit more belief and conviction” to create some really good opportunities in the final third.

“I thought Dom worked hard but, like I said, he hasn’t played for over a month, only his second game of the year,” said the former Celtic boss. “I just thought there were a lot of odd times where, you know, if we just had a bit more belief and conviction in that front third that we could have made so much more with our play to create really good opportunities and, and even the ones we did, you know, we didn’t again, like I said, we lacked some real conviction in their execution to really make the most of them.”

When pressed on what gives him the belief that the team’s lack of conviction will change, he added: “We’ve just got to keep working at it mate, that’s my job. I’ve just got to keep giving the feedback to the guys, trying to guide them in the right way to make them see that for all their dominance in the game, you need to really be clear-headed in those kind of moments and, that’s my role to try to guide them in the right way.”

Spurs do have the chance to bounce back immediately as they travel to Championship side Coventry City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening. Postecoglou will likely rotate his team and allow some of those on the periphery to start, thus giving opportunities to some to make a case for a starting spot against Brentford next Saturday.

Tottenham need a game where everything goes their way in the final third ahead of an important run of Premier League games that starts with the visit of Thomas Frank’s side. That belief and conviction Postecoglou mentioned is going to be key if Spurs are to start climbing the Premier League table after such a frustrating start to a big year for the football club.