Arsenal lost this game because, after a scintillating first-half display of slick, early passing where they enjoyed midfield space and superiority, they lacked the leadership to counter Spurs' resurgence. Tottenham Hotspur won it because they played with great spirit in the second half but, more importantly, Harry Redknapp made a subtle half‑time change which unhinged their opponents' defensive shape.
Playing with two wide men on the chalk in that first period, Tottenham had hoped Aaron Lennon's and Gareth Bale's wing play would pin Bacary Sagna and Gaël Clichy back and develop goal-scoring chances. But wide men cannot flourish if they do not get a regular supply of ball. The opening game-plan would have centred on Rafael van der Vaart commanding the ball, passing wide and, when possession changed hands, tracking into his four-man midfield to lend support. After all, Tottenham's was an attacking line-up.
Possession was key. Yet, critically, Spurs could not recover the ball sufficiently at any point in that first half to find wingers who had been rendered almost redundant. The delightful Cesc Fábregas, combining with the sharp Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin and the supportive Alex Song, ran the first period and kept the ball. In this phase of play Younes Kaboul and William Gallas looked like back-up centre-backs while Benoît Assou-Ekotto allowed Nasri through on his inside for the Frenchman, showing more determination than Heurelho Gomes, to score. Marouane Chamakh completed an electric move to put the game seemingly beyond Spurs.
The situation demanded a reaction. Cleverly Redknapp dispatched Lennon and parked Van der Vaart wider in a right-sided, semi-forward position. Jeramain Defoe joined Roman Pavlyuchenko and positivity followed.
Tottenham now had two front options – the willing, pacey Defoe pulling off Laurent Koscielny and dragging him out wide, and Pavlyuchenko occupying Sébastien Squillaci. It was the Dutchman who caused the problems for Arsenal.
In the first half Clichy had known where his orthodox wide opponent, Lennon, was positioned. Now Van der Vaart was cunningly placed in a pocket of space. When Clichy closed him down, Defoe pulled into the area behind the full-back threatening Arsenal down that flank. The Arsenal left-back now thought twice about raiding into the space wide, aware that Spurs were looking to counter in the area he had vacated.
Arsenal steadily lost their belief even if they stuck to their philosophy. Tottenham used Bale to great effect. His speedy strides induced several mistimed challenges and a flow of free-kicks.
The home side had their share of possession on the day but failed to nail the visitors, whose win was down to morale and a timely half-time decision from an experienced, wise old manager and his coaching staff.
Source: David Pleat, The Guardian on 22 Nov 10
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