3 Things We Learned From Sunday’s North London Derby

The North London Derby never disappoints, and yesterday's clash between Arsenal and Tottenham was no exception. In a fiery showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arsenal edged out their bitter rivals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

The animosity between both sets of players was palpable, as referee Jarred Gillett handed out eight yellow cards during the game. But despite the fireworks on the pitch, the game itself never truly caught fire. A toothless Tottenham attack failed to break Arsenal’s low-block, resulting in an uncharacteristic dull, but combative North London Derby. Even without key figures like Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta’s men found a way to get the job done. The decisive moment came in the 64th minute when Gabriel rose highest to head home a brilliant Bukayo Saka delivery, silencing the home crowd. 

This win not only boosts Arsenal’s momentum but also narrows the gap between them and league leaders Manchester City, setting the stage for a massive showdown next weekend. Meanwhile, Spurs are left licking their wounds after a frustrating evening in front of their fans. With the North London Derby now in the rearview, here are the three things we learned from the game. 

1) Arsenal played like champions 

Winning at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is no mean feat. In their last 30 games at home, Spurs have lost on just nine occasions. However, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal has found a way to overcome their bitter rivals at their own patch, winning three consecutive North London Derbies in Tottenham’s backyard. Having said that, the Gunners looked nowhere near their best. They evidently missed the calming influence of Declan Rice and the creative spark of Martin Odegaard. The Gunners had possession of the ball for just 36% of the game, handing Spurs all the incentive to attack. 

Arsenal may have struggled in possession, but their defensive display was nothing short of outstanding. The Gunners backline, consisting of Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, looked rock solid, as they limited Spurs to just five shots on target. Furthermore, Gabriel wasn’t just a defensive powerhouse—he stepped up as the match winner, heading home the crucial goal that sealed the victory. Performances like this ignite a real sense of belief—not just in the fans, but within the team—that something special could be brewing by the season's end. Heading into the game, Arsenal seemed to be facing an uphill battle: no Declan Rice, no Martin Odegaard, playing in enemy territory, and staring down the barrel of a five-point gap in the title race if they lost. Yet, despite all the odds stacked against them, Mikel Arteta’s men delivered when it mattered most. If that’s not the mark of title contenders, then what is? 

2) Ange Postecoglou must settle on his best XI, and quickly 

In just a year, Ange Postecoglou has completely transformed the atmosphere around Tottenham. More importantly, the Australian has instilled a style of playing that Spurs fans can get behind. But despite several positive changes, Tottenham’s start to the 2024/25 season is concerning. The Lilywhites have managed to accrue just four points from four games. While the performances have been generally positive, the result has left a lot to be desired. In spite of possessing the most field tilt of any Prem team this season, Spurs have managed to score just six goals. To say their attack looks toothless is an understatement—it’s like a tiger with no claws and bite. 

Tottenham’s lack of a cutting edge has comeback to bite them on more occasions than one this season, and that was true yesterday too. Part of the issue has been Ange Postecoglou’s constant chopping and changing of the front three. While some changes were forced due to Richarlison and Solanke’s injury, other were more self-inflicted. In four matches this season, Ange has fielded four different front-threes. Although attacking variety is necessary, the mark of a good team is a settled starting XI, which the Australian head coach hasn’t settled on.  

The sooner Ange settles on a consistent starting XI, the faster Spurs will start firing on all cylinders. There's no doubt they'll hit their stride, but time is of the essence. If Tottenham are serious about ending their long-standing title drought, they can’t afford to keep tinkering. They need stability, and they need it now to build momentum. 

3) Old problem rears its ugly head once again 

Where do I even begin with Tottenham’s set-piece problem? Tottenham Hotspur's ongoing struggles with set-pieces are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Last season, they conceded a staggering 18 goals directly from set-pieces, ranking them third in the Premier League for defensive failures in this area. Despite this alarming statistic, Ange Postecoglou has downplayed the issue, which raises eyebrows, especially after Arsenal's recent victory showcased Spurs' vulnerabilities once again. While Mikel Arteta has understood the importance of set-pieces, his Australian counterpart fails to acknowledge its growing importance.  

Arsenal scored 91 goals last season in the Prem, out of which 24 were scored directly from set-pieces. In fact, the Gunners scored two set-piece goals against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, resulting in an important 3-2 win. Tottenham's lack of attacking potency has only exacerbated their defensive issues. With just 44 points from their last 32 Premier League matches, the pressure is mounting on Postecoglou. While he has received plenty of love and adulation from the Spurs faithful, continued poor performances could quickly lead to discontent among fans. Postecoglou himself has acknowledged the need for improvement, stating that it only takes one lapse in concentration to concede from a set-piece, a mistake that proved costly against Arsenal. 

As the season progresses, Spurs must address their set-piece problems if they hope to turn their fortunes around. The contrasting approaches of Postecoglou and Arteta highlight a crucial aspect of modern football: the ability to effectively defend and capitalize on set-pieces can often be the difference between success and failure. 

Also Read: Three of the Most Memorable North London Derbies in Recent Memory