You’re Nicked

Arsenal 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

1 – 0 Adebayor (48)
1 – 1 Berbatov (66)
2 – 1 Bendtner (76)

If Tottenham ever launch a TV channel, it can be dismissed for showing old comedy repeats in much the same way that the BBC schedule every festive season. An Arsenal win by two goals to one, following a below-par performance; comedy defending, a penalty miss which would have given Tottenham the lead and very possibly the points and the Arsenal bar rattled when it was easier to score. We have seen it all before and will probably see it again. This was a throwback to the 1980s trips to White Hart Lane when 2 – 1 was as de rigueur as the Fila Polar Neck.

The first half was possibly the poorest Arsenal have played at The Emirates this season. Their game never got going; they were never allowed to settle. In fairness, that was partially due to Tottenham whose organisation on the pitch was probably better than they have managed in a North London derby for over a decade. The midfield never clicked into gear although the signs were there that they would do so when a neat passing sequence allowed Flamini to send in a shot to the side-netting. It was however a cameo.

Towards the end of the half though, the signs were there that things were improving as Robinson made solid saves from Toure and Eboue. That said Tottenham rarely threatened and when they did, Sagna’s head was in the way. Indeed, the Frenchman’s inability to get forward constructively was one of the most striking points about the performance in the first half. The verve with which he is able to get forward normally was missing.

As disjointed as the first half had been, the second kicked off with the panache normally associated with an Emirates match. Rosicky and Fabregas sliced open Tottenham, the latter’s backheel set Adebayor free in the box to compose himself and score confidently past Robinson. Tottenham were rattled and moments later, Fabregas shot high and wide when setting Eboue free would have been the better option, acknowledged by the Spaniard immediately after the ball had left his foot.

The visitors regrouped and had their best spell of the game. I still cannot work out how Keane hit the bar although I will confess to not giving it much thought, being more relieved than anything else. The respite was brief as Berbatov was worked into a position in the box which allowed him to toe-poke the ball with ferocity past Almunia. To blame the ‘keeper would be harsh, the pace on the shot being the reason it entered the net although Jens Lehmann probably thought it should have been stopped.

Any schadenfreude on his part was short-lived when Keane’s penalty was hit too close to Almunia who saved well. There can be no arguments with the decision, Toure clearly following through onto Berbatov. Unlike the other penalty shouts, Rob Styles got this right. How the fouls on Rosicky were not given is beyond me. Probably for the first one, Styles was using Graham Poll’s trademark ‘I was watching the upper part of the body’ theory for foul play but the second one was purely impeding the run of an opponent, a body Czech to stop Rosicky receiving the pass. That said, Sagna caught Taarabt late on so relief counters the frustration to some extent.

The winner when it came will pass into the pantheon of inspired substitutions. Well, OK, Arsene got a tad lucky with the timing. Ramos must still be banging the brick wall with his head for no matter how Gus Poyet might like to claim that an Arsenal attacker – Gallas, I think – blocked off Chimbonda’s run, the simple fact is that the Tottenham defender ran straight into the back of him. Peter Sellers would have killed for such comic timing. The error allowed Bendtner to rise unchallenged and power the ball home.

A good win, three points and an ideal Christmas Present for everyone connected with the club. The coming visits to Portsmouth and Everton have been set-up nicely by this result although one would hasten to add that the performance levels will need to be upped somewhat to take the points. Now if that nice Mr Claus could see his way to curing van Persie’s thigh strain, I am sure that Arsene would suitably grateful.

‘til Tomorrow.