Yesterday we returned in the title race with a much-needed win against the Spurs, while also breaking the unfortunate spell of not being able to escape White Hart Lane with the three points, a spell that stretched back to 2007. We have also beaten Spurs for the third time this season, something that happened for the first time in my memory.
Despite talking up Kallstrom's fitness and Flamini's importance, the manager opted for the Ox in midfield and Rosicky on the flank and his decision paid off in the second minute of the game.
A wayward pass from some Spurs bloke was intercepted by Giroud, who chested the ball down for the Ox. The Englishman laid it off for Rosicky, the Czech ran half the field, played a hilarious one-two with Oxlade and then smashed the ball home.
It was a strike of true beauty, with the manager labelling it "one of the top goals this season":
"It will go in my collection of great goals. I told Tomas that because first of all he's not a typical goalscorer and he surprised everybody. He had not even time to realise what he was doing and it was in the back of the net. It was an unbelievable goal".
Tottenham tried to put us under pressure after that, Adebayor doing his damnedest to upset us, but to no avail. In fact, Arsenal should have been 2-0 up at half-time, only for some poor decision-making from Oxlade and a couple of dodgy decisions from the linesman to prevent us from killing the game.
As it was, we were very nearly punished for our wastefulness early in the second half.
Szczesny came off the line to clear the ball, misjudged the situation and the ball fell to Chadli. He was unable to make this mistake count, however, as Mertesacker and Koscielny seemed to shield the entire goal, with the latter one getting in the way of Chadli's effort.
Tottenham attacked some more, Paulinho and Soldado were thrown on, but the chickens only went close from a decent shot by Adebayor from outside the box. Szczesny saved that, making it look easier than it really was.
We even could have scored another late on, but Lloris got down to Mert's shot well. The final whistle came soon after that.
The manager talked up the importance of the result after the game:
"It is a huge result. We were under pressure to win before the game because of course it was a very important game. After that it was a mixture, our early goal a little bit influenced too much the way we played because we missed the second goal and after that we wanted to protect the lead. Sometimes we were under pressure, Tottenham played well you must say. For me they were absolutely up for it and we needed some special resilience to get away with it. As long as we didn't score the second goal of course it was a very tight game. But in the end for us it's three massive points".
And on how well our central defenders fared:
"They were exceptional for the whole game. They were already at Bayern I think and even after when Vermaelen came on we finished with the three [centre-backs] and they didn't create the chances anymore".
Truth be told, I'm in two minds about this game. There were things I liked and the ones I didn't.
To start on a positive note, I admired our defensive performance, or, to put it in manager's terms, our resilience. Everyone did their bit, Mertescielny was outstanding, Sagna denied Rose space, Arteta fit in well in a game that doesn't really suit his style. A defensive masterclass, with the only thing Tottenham could have used to equalise is our own mistake.
At the other end of the pitch, though, we weren't as good as I'd like us to be. Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted a couple of opportunities, Giroud was basically invisible (bar his exceptional time-winning style in the very end), very little came off for Cazorla, who was deployed under the striker. I'd really like us to step it up against Chelsea a week from now.
That being said, it just seems a bit churlish and mean to complain about the way we got the result when we've got it. Yes, it was a backs-to-the-wall performance, but it doesn't take any points or our defensive brilliance away.
All in all, a hugely important win and though our chances to clinch the title still look slim, we are in this race and should we beat Chelsea, we'll be serious contenders.
As for now, enjoy the win.
Until later
Despite talking up Kallstrom's fitness and Flamini's importance, the manager opted for the Ox in midfield and Rosicky on the flank and his decision paid off in the second minute of the game.
A wayward pass from some Spurs bloke was intercepted by Giroud, who chested the ball down for the Ox. The Englishman laid it off for Rosicky, the Czech ran half the field, played a hilarious one-two with Oxlade and then smashed the ball home.
It was a strike of true beauty, with the manager labelling it "one of the top goals this season":
"It will go in my collection of great goals. I told Tomas that because first of all he's not a typical goalscorer and he surprised everybody. He had not even time to realise what he was doing and it was in the back of the net. It was an unbelievable goal".
Tottenham tried to put us under pressure after that, Adebayor doing his damnedest to upset us, but to no avail. In fact, Arsenal should have been 2-0 up at half-time, only for some poor decision-making from Oxlade and a couple of dodgy decisions from the linesman to prevent us from killing the game.
As it was, we were very nearly punished for our wastefulness early in the second half.
Szczesny came off the line to clear the ball, misjudged the situation and the ball fell to Chadli. He was unable to make this mistake count, however, as Mertesacker and Koscielny seemed to shield the entire goal, with the latter one getting in the way of Chadli's effort.
Tottenham attacked some more, Paulinho and Soldado were thrown on, but the chickens only went close from a decent shot by Adebayor from outside the box. Szczesny saved that, making it look easier than it really was.
We even could have scored another late on, but Lloris got down to Mert's shot well. The final whistle came soon after that.
The manager talked up the importance of the result after the game:
"It is a huge result. We were under pressure to win before the game because of course it was a very important game. After that it was a mixture, our early goal a little bit influenced too much the way we played because we missed the second goal and after that we wanted to protect the lead. Sometimes we were under pressure, Tottenham played well you must say. For me they were absolutely up for it and we needed some special resilience to get away with it. As long as we didn't score the second goal of course it was a very tight game. But in the end for us it's three massive points".
And on how well our central defenders fared:
"They were exceptional for the whole game. They were already at Bayern I think and even after when Vermaelen came on we finished with the three [centre-backs] and they didn't create the chances anymore".
Truth be told, I'm in two minds about this game. There were things I liked and the ones I didn't.
To start on a positive note, I admired our defensive performance, or, to put it in manager's terms, our resilience. Everyone did their bit, Mertescielny was outstanding, Sagna denied Rose space, Arteta fit in well in a game that doesn't really suit his style. A defensive masterclass, with the only thing Tottenham could have used to equalise is our own mistake.
At the other end of the pitch, though, we weren't as good as I'd like us to be. Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted a couple of opportunities, Giroud was basically invisible (bar his exceptional time-winning style in the very end), very little came off for Cazorla, who was deployed under the striker. I'd really like us to step it up against Chelsea a week from now.
That being said, it just seems a bit churlish and mean to complain about the way we got the result when we've got it. Yes, it was a backs-to-the-wall performance, but it doesn't take any points or our defensive brilliance away.
All in all, a hugely important win and though our chances to clinch the title still look slim, we are in this race and should we beat Chelsea, we'll be serious contenders.
As for now, enjoy the win.
Until later