Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal: Gabriel & Gunners expose Spurs' set-piece flaws

Arsenal's focus on the little things – because minor details can determine the outcome of closely contested matches – highlighted why they caused more distress for Tottenham in the north London derby.

The joyful shouts from the Arsenal analysts situated at the rear of the press box were unmistakable when Gabriel delivered a powerful header past Guglielmo Vicario in the 64th minute, securing a vital 1-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s team. This marked their third consecutive victory against Spurs, highlighting a significant gap between the two teams.

Spurs had a golden chance to assert themselves against their biggest rivals when the Arsenal lineup was released, showing that they would be missing captain Martin Odegaard due to injury and Declan Rice because of a suspension.

Instead, Ange Postecoglou's team put on a display that fell apart into a series of bad choices throughout the field. They missed or squandered chances to shoot and cross as a sense of urgency took hold following Gabriel's goal.

The fans' disappointment was evident as a few match programs were thrown onto the field, along with some scattered boos at the end of the game. Having only one victory in four league matches marks a lackluster beginning for a club with big aspirations. They've suffered defeat in seven of their last eleven league games spanning this season and the previous one.

On the other hand, Arsenal put up a strong defensive front in front of goalkeeper David Raya, wearing their unusual black uniforms, and managed to score effectively to secure the victory.

Spurs and Postecoglou have experienced this situation in the past, and it hasn't ended well.

In Arsenal's recent matches against Spurs, three out of their last four goals have been scored from set-piece situations. Only three teams—Nottingham Forest, along with relegated Luton Town and Sheffield United—have allowed more goals from set-pieces since last season began, with Postecoglou's side conceding 18 goals in these scenarios, not including penalties.

However, when the topic came up with Postecoglou last season, he seemed to dismiss it as unimportant. The data, and especially the losses, indicate otherwise, and eventually, he has to consider this seriously.

Let’s revisit the difference between the two teams.

Since the beginning of last season, Arsenal has netted more goals than any other team in the Premier League, with a total of 24 goals from open play, not counting penalties from set pieces.

This is a nod to the efforts of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2021. The Gunners had thoroughly prepared for Spurs, who did not seem to have absorbed the tough lessons from earlier encounters.

Since Jover took on the role, Arsenal has netted 43 goals from corner kicks, leading all teams in Europe’s top five leagues.

Arteta gave a strong answer when questioned about whether Jover was the top in his profession. He said, "Not just in his field, but in others as well, and as an individual. Our bond is what led me to choose him for City when I was there and then to bring him to Arsenal."

"He and the team have instilled a sense of confidence in the players that there are various strategies to achieve victory in football. This is incredibly impactful. It has brought us a great deal, so a huge thanks to all of them."

Gabriel's objective wasn't exactly a masterpiece; it was more of a standard tactic. He took advantage of Saka's curling corner, which was made easier by Cristian Romero's lackluster defense.

The Spurs often struggle in these situations, and Arsenal is well aware of this. Romero's plea to referee Jarred Gillet, claiming he had been wronged, clearly showed his desperation. The Argentine, who likes to think of himself as tough, just didn't have the strength in that moment.

The Spurs were likely pleased to see that Arsenal's lineup was missing Odegaard and Rice. However, their energetic beginning quickly diminished, leading to a somewhat heated match. There was a particularly nasty moment in the first half when players from both teams got into a confrontation after Jurien Timber's tackle on Pedro Porro.

The anticipated reaction from Spurs following Gabriel's goal didn't happen, allowing goalkeeper Raya to have a pretty easy time during the second half.

Arsenal relied significantly on Raya's skills, solid defense, and strong resolve before finally finding success with a set piece that determined the outcome of the match.

Arsenal's joy at the end of the match was totally justified, especially since they managed to secure the victory without Odegaard and Rice. They were also aware that any further lost points, following their home draw against Brighton, would only add to the pressure before their upcoming match against the reigning champions and current league leaders, Manchester City, next weekend. They are now only two points behind in the standings.

The Spurs kicked off the day feeling optimistic, but the initial excitement quickly faded. There was an almost unavoidable feeling that Arsenal would deliver the usual disappointment, and, true to form, they did just that.

Postecoglou and Spurs were in urgent need of a strong beginning to the new season, especially after their disappointing performance in the latter half of last year, which caused them to miss out on a Champions League spot to Aston Villa. There has been a noticeable enhancement in their playing style and their position in the league compared to the uninspired approach under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. However, given the high hopes and expectations at the start of the season, their current situation is still somewhat disheartening.

The Spurs are currently ranked 13th. This defeat will hit them hard, as it seemed like the perfect chance to turn their fortunes around against Arsenal on their home ground.

James Maddison appears to be struggling with his confidence, and new £60 million summer recruit Dominic Solanke was still adjusting during his first game at home. The striker had a header that just missed the target, sent another directly to goalkeeper Raya, and took too much time when presented with a scoring chance in the first half.

The Spurs struggled to come up with any new strategies as the game progressed, while Arsenal was happy to absorb what could be vaguely termed as pressure. The match concluded with a mix of emotions when the final whistle was blown.

Arsenal celebrated a joyful victory in this north London derby, with their players and manager Arteta reveling in the moment in a small part of the opponent's territory.