Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal analysis: Gunners Kane'd again!

Bengaluru, February 10: Arsenal Kane'd again!

The North London derby at The Wembley Stadium saw the highest ever attendance in the Premier League era with 83,222 spectators watching the occasion. From a football point of view, the game did not disappoint as Tottenham secured three points with a 1-0 win. Harry Kane got on the score sheet yet again, taking his North London derby goals tally to seven, only one short of Emmanuel Adebayor (eight) who of course, has played for both the London clubs. Arsenal's poor form away from home continues.

Pochettino employed the same starting eleven that earned a point against Liverpool while Arsene Wenger brought in Wilshere. Cech passed a late fitness test to make the Starting XI. Arsenal midfield comprised Granit Xhaka, Jack Wilshere and Mohammed Elneny with Wilshere given the license to attack, in a more box-to-box role.

The midfield battle was won by Spurs as Mousa Dembele looked sharp in possession and took up the task of transition from defence to attack. He is now proving to be a key figure in Pochettino's team, having made back-to-back big performances (against Manchester United and Arsenal).

Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan find it hard

The game saw an end-to-end start with Arsenal trying quick counter-attacks through Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the two debutants of this fixture. However, Spurs centre-back Davinson Sanchez stuck to his task to see off the danger on multiple occasions. Aubameyang managed only six touches in the first half, while Mkhitaryan missed three chances to cross the ball into the Spurs' box, much to the disappointment of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans. Mkhitaryan was subbed off at the 65th minute of the game.

Early chances

The first chance appeared to have fallen to Aubameyang, as Wilshere played the ball through the Spurs defence, but the Gabonese was wrongly flagged offside.

On the other end, Dele Alli ran straight through the Arsenal midfield and attempted to put the ball on Kane's path. Skrodan Mustafi was at the right place at the right time, to clear the danger.

The first chance on target, however, came in the 25th minute when Christian Eriksen tried to direct right back Kieran Trippier's cross into Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech's far post.

Most of Tottenham's attack came from the left flank. In the first half, South Korean Son Heung-min got as many touches in Arsenal's box as Arsenal managed entirely in Tottenham's box.

Kane at it again

The deadlock was broken by Harry Kane in the second half when he headed home Ben Davies' cross in the 49th minute to start another century of goals for the North London team. Arsene Wenger complained of a push by the English international on Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny but the referee was having none of that. In the next four minutes, Kane could have made it two for him and Spurs, when he failed to put a perfectly weighted ball by Eric Dier into the back of the net and hit another volley right at Cech, who parried it away. The English forward was named Man of the Match.

Arsenal concede for 9th time in a row

Arsenal have conceded in their last nine games running. Petr Cech, who has been on 199 clean sheets since his last standing clean sheet, was in agony after Kane headed home. The back-four for Arsenal, comprising Nacho Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi and Hector Bellerin, looked shaky in possession during the course of the game. The margin of victory for Spurs could have been greater but Arsenal have Cech to thank for for making crucial saves off shots against Kane and Erik Lamela.

Tottenham look to carry on good form into the Champions league

Tottenham secured seven points in their last three Premier League games with wins over Manchester United and Arsenal and a draw against Liverpool. They play Juventus on Tuesday away from home and would want the good run to continue. Kane, when asked in the post-match interview about the fixture, said he cannot wait for it and is very excited.

Tottenham move up to third position in the Premier league with 52 points while Arsenal find themselves six points off the top-four.

Can Tottenham carry on the good run of form into the Champions league and can Arsenal up their gear to realize their Champions league dream for next year?