Another tough day at home for Tottenham Hotspur.placeholder image
Another tough day at home for Tottenham Hotspur. | Getty Images
Igor Tudor picks up where Thomas Frank left off at Tottenham Hotspur, with a home defeat.
There was a feeling that Tottenham Hotspur could combine a new manager bounce with a wobbly midweek Arsenal performance to pull off an unexpected North London derby victory on Sunday evening.
That was not to be the case for Spurs with the Gunners causing serious problems for their bitter rivals. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for the visitors in the 32nd minute before Spurs looked to have hauled themselves right back into it when Randal Kolo Muani netted two minutes later.
Arsenal wouldn’t have that and cruised to victory after the break, Viktor Gyokeres bagging a brace either side of a second from Eze. Here’s how the Spurs players rated.
Tottenham player ratings v Arsenal
GK - Guglielmo Vicario, 6
A tough day with Arsenal really at it. Did make some important saves and claims, but the Gunners did score with three of their five shots on target.
LWB - Djed Spence, 6
Looked well up for the battle with Bukayo Saka, just never really appeared to be capable of winning it. Didn’t find much influence going forwards until late on when firing one into the feet of Richarlison.
CB - Micky Van de Ven, 6
The Spurs defender who looked most capable of handling the Arsenal breaks, but still a way off it. Flat footed prior to the third, allowing Bukayo Saka to steal through. You can’t be letting the pacey Gunners man get a yard on you like that.
CB - Radu Dragusin, 5
Really in the thick of it today. Grew into his battle with Viktor Gyokeres in the first half but became a pawn to Eberechi Eze’s dangerous moves off the ball prior to the Gyokeres goal. There were moments of more confident interventions but the Gunners always looked capable of getting the better of him.
CB - Joao Palhinha, 4
Not convincing. Nowhere near as quick as the opposition and unconvincing for both the Gyokeres goal and the second finish from Eze. Needed to be more lively.
RWB - Archie Gray, 6
Picked up a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away and took a clattering to the nose early on. Overpowered by Gyokeres in injury time as Arsenal put the game to bed with a fourth.
CM - Yves Bissouma, 6
Compared to Chelsea star Moises Caicedo by Gary Neville on commentary early on the first half. Did start the game with a real determination, perhaps invigorated by the change in management. That passion faded as the game drifted away. Booked for dissent late on.
CM - Conor Gallagher, 7
Does bring a drive to the Tottenham Hotspur side and covers a lot of ground. Needs to translate that intensity to attacking output.
CM - Pape Matar Sarr, 5
Somewhat anonymous in the centre of the park. Arsenal dominated the ball and Spurs needed more to win it back from Sarr.
ST - Xavi Simons, 6
Hit an awful pass early on and was very lucky to see Leandro Trossard blaze that over the bar. You can’t make simple mistakes like that at this level. Was tenacious in his closing down.
ST - Randal Kolo Muani, 8
Took his goal very well, showcasing strength to hold off the Arsenal defence and powering the ball past David Raya. Perhaps unlucky to see a second disallowed with Gabriel making the most of the tiniest of pushes, but should have kept his hands to himself. Subbed with just over 20 minutes left to play.
SUBS - Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke.
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