Did we go bang?
I must admit, for the first time in a long time I didn't feel nervous going in to a North London Derby. It wasn't that I was massively confident in our ability. It was more that they, in spite of what the league table was telling us, are just much worse than us.
Back in March, in an interview Mikel Arteta spoke about how he felt his project was about to go "bang". This looked increasingly unlikely as crowd support was seemingly waning as Arsenal missed out on European football for the first time in 25 years, coupled with the worst start in club history. Yesterday, against Sp*rs, we may have seen the first explosion.
Most of the pre match chatter centred around the available again Granit Xhaka and whether or not he would come straight back in to the team. For me it was never in doubt, although I wouldn't have minded Sambi Lokonga starting. I always expected Arteta to roll with the experienced man, who has formed a pretty solid partnership with Thomas Partey, for such a big game. There was of course the inevitable Twitter meltdown once the line up confirmed this, but those grumbles of discontent were replaced by cheers of ecstacy before we reached half time.
Although we had looked solid in our previous two league wins, we were far from spectacular. The attack hadn't really got going and was a real source of frustration for fans and manager alike. But you wouldn't have known it with the way we came out flying. From minute one we controlled the ball, playing at a fast tempo. The crowd certainly played their part, in full voice from long before the game even began, and they were rewarded only 12 minutes in as a Bukayo Saka cut back was swept home by Emile Smith-Rowe for his first league goal of the season. It was wonderful seeing two Hale End boys teaming up to score in the derby like that. In his post match interview, ESR would even go on to describe the day as the best of his life.
Spurs never really got going in the first half, save for a near post shot from Son that Ramsdale dealt with comfortably. His only other involvement of note in the first 45 was in the build up to our second. His fizzed in ball to Xhaka looked risky, but the Swiss nipped it away from Hojbjerg to set in motion a classic Arsenal counter. Xhaka played it out to to Smith Rowe who knocked it out first time to Tierney and immediately set on his way. Tierney played it in to Aubameyang on half way and his sumptuous flick found ESR in full flow. His first touch was exquisite, and he carried it in to the area before cutting back to the captain who had followed his flick, sweeping home first time with his left foot. It was a stunning goal, capped of with an homage to the watching Thierry Henry, his knee slide reminiscent of the kings own after a goal he scored against the enemy of his own at Highbury.
The fast, incisive counter attacking was what we had been expecting from Arteta's Arsenal since he took the job and it was finally on display. It was hard not to be reminded of similar first halves we had played under Arsene Wenger against Manchester United and Chelsea. And similar to those games, We took it easy after the break, controlling the game but not really playing with the same intesity as in the first half. Although it was a bit disappointing, it was also understandable. No need to take risks when you're in such a comfortable position.
That comfort was tested somewhat with just over 10 minutes to go as Son powered a finish past Ramsdale, who was visibly fuming that his clean sheet was gone. It was the first goal that he has conceded for the Gunners and you could tell it really bothered him.
In the build up to that goal, there was a potentially serious looking injury to Xhaka, as Moura inadvertently collided with his knee. It was frustrating as he was about to be substituted anyway, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping that scans don't show anything too long term.
After that though, the threat really petered out. There was an injury time effort from Lucas Moura that Ramsdale superbly tipped on to the bar that was cleaned up by the incredible Tomiyasu. Seeing the keeper then bark out orders to the likes of Partey really fills me with hope that he is the right man for the job. He is confident and not phased by anything, and he has really connected with his teammates and fans in equal measure. Many a supporter are now changing their minds on him for the better, and who can blame them.
The final whistle went not too long after that, and a still full Emirates erupted. It had been 90 minutes of solid support and it looked like not a single person had left early for the tube, not wanting to miss the moment. There seems to be a real connection with this group of mostly young, mixed with experienced, players and the fans. It's the sort of connection that comes with knowing you are on a journey and you are going together. Here's hoping everyone stays on the ride and continues to enjoy it.
A lot of the media coverage of the game has centred around how bad they were as opposed to how good we were, but don't be fooled by that narrative. We really were excellent, for the first half in particular. The trick now is to replicate that type of performance on a regular basis. We now go on a run of potentially winnable fixtures, with the next of those against a Brighton side who could be topping the table going in to the game (although as I type this they have just gone behind to Palace).
At the beginning of the month we were bottom of the league; no points, no goals, a laughing stock. Sp*rs were sat top of the table; 3 wins no goals conceded, celebrating winning the August league. Today, a mere three games later, we sit above them. It's a funny old game that changes all the time. But one thing is consistent through it all. North London is, and always will be, red!
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