Arteta’s team confirms itself as the anti-Liverpool, but there are still chronic defects on the pitch that the Spaniard is unable to resolve
London is Red, London is red like Arsenal. And the Gunners are officially the anti Liverpool after the 2-1 in the heartfelt derby in the northern area of the capital against Tottenham left them alone in second place, 4 points behind the leaders, who still have a game to recover. Arteta’s team remains much more than 4 points away from the Reds, because they have chronic defects that they are unable to resolve such as the inability to finish in front of goal which the match against Spurs also confirmed. But at least they haven’t lost in the Premier League since November 2nd and are the only big club to travel at a pace at least close to that of Liverpool.
the keys
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Arsenal’s victory is deserved. He controlled the game, at times dominated it in the first half, when instead of scoring a goal he conceded it, with Son who in the 25th minute put Spurs ahead (crushed in their own area for the first 20′) with a nice volley involuntarily deflected by Saliba. The reaction is what put the Gunners alone in second place: it’s true that the equalizer was an unfortunate own goal by Solanke, but Trossard’s opening goal was the right reward. Arteta has formidable defenders like Gabriel, man of the match, and a potentially great talent in Miles Lewis-Skelly, an 18-year-old who is increasingly comfortable as a left-back. The problem is that his team don’t score: instead of a goal cooperative, they have their best weapon in corner kicks and a center forward in Kai Havertz who collects missed opportunities. It’s enough for second place, but as in the last two seasons the idea is that without that center forward with an easy goal that he can’t find on the market (there are still two weeks to try…) Arsenal can’t take that decisive step that she is missing to win.
Tottenham certainly can’t do it: in the Premier League, Postecoglou’s team has now not won for 5 games (they have lost 4) and is sailing in an anonymous 13th place. The Spurs have an impressive series of injuries (Vicario and Udogie are also in the infirmary, who will not return before the end of February in the best case scenario), but this does not prevent Postecoglou from always playing on the attack, from asking his team to always try and however, even if as a central defender there is an 18 year old like Archie Gray who plays (very well) out of position and in the second half the only one in front of the defense was the 18 year old Lucas Bergvall, someone who usually plays as an attacking midfielder. Tottenham have been asking too much of the same players for too many games: to beat Arsenal, the anti-Liverpool, more would have been needed.
the others
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Newcastle never stops. Like Alexander Isak, the most in-form center forward in the Premier League who, with the brace that contributed to a 3-0 win for Wolverhampton, reached 8 consecutive league matches in scoring: only three other players in history have achieved this. With the victory, Tonali and his teammates achieved 6 successes in a row in the Premier League (9 in all competitions, a club record equaled) and rose to 38 points, overtaking Chelsea in fourth place. The Wolves remain at 16 with their second consecutive defeat.
David Moyes’ first time as Everton manager ends in defeat: Aston Villa wins 1-0 at Goodison Park, with a decisive goal from Watkins. Emery’s team, with their second success in a row, reaches City on 35, while Everton remains in trouble on 17 with their third consecutive defeat. Leicester are also in trouble, knocked out 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace: the Foxes are second to last with 14 points, the Eagles reach Tottenham on 24.
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