Arsenal analysis: Granit Xhaka matures in central role but Gunners fail to make superior options count against Tottenham

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James Benge7 November 2016

For the third north London derby in a row neither side came out on top, but this time it was Arsenal who were denied after leading the way before seeing Tottenham fight back to claim a point.

Arsenal enjoyed more chances than their visitors but rarely carved Spurs apart, claiming the lead only when Kevin Wimmer turned a free-kick into his own net. The Gunners were denied victory when Laurent Koscielny fouled Mousa Dembele, Harry Kane converting the spot kick.

The draw leaves Arsene Wenger’s side third heading into the international break but what will the Arsenal manager have learned from the match?

Standard Sport examines the key talking points for Arsenal below…

Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

GRANIT XHAKA LOOKS AT HOME IN MIDFIELD TUSSLE

Having instructed Xhaka to curb his enthusiasm as he prepared for his first league match since picking up a straight red against Swansea, Wenger was rewarded with a composed, elegant performance the Swiss international and his fellow terrier-like anchor Francis Coquelin.

It seems the two make for a rather better pairing than had been expected, one of the two stepping forward to press the ball whilst the other shielded the backline. And whilst Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele provided perhaps the league’s most powerful midfield Xhaka was not overawed and did not resort to any skulduggery to get the ball back.

ALEX IWOBI LOOKS A STAR FOR ARSENAL… UNTIL HE GETS IN FRONT OF GOAL

Over 70 minutes the young Nigerian provided the lot for Arsenal: support play for Alexis Sanchez, an eye for a pass in tight space and an ability to beat his man. But put Iwobi in the box and all of that brightness vanishes.

Only one chance came Iwobi’s way, but it was an ideal one. Slipped through by Alexis Sanchez to finish off a superb Arsenal counter he slipped and could only roll a poor shot straight into Hugo Lloris’ arms.

Wenger has already felt moved to publically critique Iwobi’s ability in front of goal, but it does not appear to have had the desired impact.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

HECTOR BELLERIN IS ALWAYS THERE IN A PINCH

For the first time since his arrival Shkodran Mustafi looked rattled, but fortuitously for him Bellerin was invariably on hand to mop up. The Spaniard in particular provided the defensive moment of the match as he dived in to steal possession from Son inside the area after he had nutmegged Laurent Koscielny.

But Bellerin could not provide his usual attacking force. The reasons for that are not entirely apparent, with Mauricio Pochettino having tasked Danny Rose with covering an entire flank as Christian Eriksen drifted infield, but that at least gave the 21-year-old a chance to show the prodigious steps he has taken to become more than just an overlapping speed merchant.

Today he was Arsenal’s best defender.

QUALITY OPTIONS ON THE BENCH FAIL TO BE IMPACT SUBSTITUTES

Pochettino turned to Vincent Janssen, Harry Winks and Kieran Trippier. Wenger was able to throw on Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yet the disproportionate quality of the two benches was not reflected on the field.

With Giroud on in particular Arsenal’s game plan should change. They should move the ball wide and Oxlade-Chamberlain should be vital in getting crosses in. Yet Arsenal continued along the same path when the substitutes came on, trying to prise open a tight Spurs back three or shoot from distance.

Whenever the ball came near Giroud he looked like winning it in the air, but Arsenal could have done a lot more to make sure those chances were not so few and far between.

ARSENAL’S SURPRISE BY SPURS’ BACK THREE REFLECTED ON THE PITCH

Theo Walcott admitted after the match that Arsenal had been taken by surprise when they saw a team sheet containing Eric Dier, Wimmer and Jan Vertonghen, all of whom would line up in defence.

Their bemusement showed.

Arsenal seemed to be playing their usual game, looking to carve space between centre backs for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to dart in to. It took at least half an hour of the first half for them to realise that their chances would come from wide, and they seemed to forget it as soon as they took the lead through Wimmer’s unfortunate own goal.

If Arsenal expect to lead the way they must expect opponent’s to vary their gameplan to deny chances, and they must find a way past the unexpected.

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