Arsenal's captain celebrates the third goal of the evening.
[Photo: Reuters through Daily Mail]
After a run of strange and seemingly disruptive results, the Gunners secured a confident win in the traditional north London derby against the arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. A series of inquires were made regarding the way that Arsenal won the game; in matches with a pressure such as this, it really does not matter how you win. Instead of all the frenzy media watching a Tottenham side that made the most hilarious and childish mistakes, I saw a solid home team that displayed when necessary and with a regularity worth of a win. The goal by Cesc was not just sublime but Zidane-esque.
With this kind of win morale lifts higher than ever and we all hope one thing from the Gunners: consistency. In the end Harry Redknapp and his useless declarations just highlighted the supreme dominance that this group of youngsters has over their north London rivals. No more can be said regarding the performance that was light years' distant in comparison to the last match at the Emirates, which saw Jamie Redknapp gone mad. Now, who is laughing Jamie?
[Photo: Getty Images through Daily Mail]
Right on in the second minute Bendtner bowed an off shot right on top of Gomes. With confidence boosted as the Gunners enjoyed a very discreet amount of possession, David Bentley reminded us his class after a deliberate handball and a nasty challenge on Vermaelen. Again the momentum of the home side continued as Gallas deflected van Persie+'s 16th minute freekick.
Exactly when the clock reached the 20th minute Arshavin produced a chance that was finished by Fábregas. Then on the pace of the match moved slower even when van Persie had yet another chance on his left foot, he stroke it wide of the near post. With the minutes passing and the pressure piling more on the home side than on the visiting, the match turned into a quiet Mexican stand-off, that lasted for at least another ten minutes. Injury worries increased when Bendtner recurred in his groin injury.
Then, the house of cards neatly built by Redknapp's men, fell down with two blows of brilliancy. After a couple of swings on Gomes spot, Arsenal's number eleven took the chance of a lifetime as Sagna crossed into the box. Immediately afterwards the willingness, fortitude, talent and magnificence of the young Arsenal captain sprung out to put in the Spurs at the edge of the knife.
The Spanish EURO champion strolled with the delicacy of the most talented of players to steal a ball from the zombie-like stunned Spurs, dribbled through three players and put a magnificent icing on the top finishing near post of Gomes. A Zidane-esque effort granted the home team with two goals in two minutes near the break.
[Photo: Who Ate all the Pies]
For the sake of what beautiful football demanded, the Spurs could not even had a breath in the beginning of the first half with Diaby nearly scoring. Even when the Gunners were adamant in possession a sense of unity was being summoned by Redknapp and his minions. Gallas' handball at 57th was a reminder of the frailty of Arsenal's defence.
Frustration overcame Spurs as a gigantic hole was put on Almunia's goal. In that visitor's momentum a bucket of cold water submerged the Spurs into pure misery when yet another mistake by the defence granted Sagna with an unimaginable chance to cross and find van Persie again. With nearly a half hour on the clock, Tottenham's hopes vanished into thin air.
With a 60,000 cheer when a Gunner touched the ball , moral for the other north London half was completely broken. As the minutes passed, the confidence of the winning team nearly afforded them with a couple of goals. When substitutions were made the game was won; not just because of the hopeless opportunities that the Spurs had been wasting in the beginning of the half, but with their general mood ant also, the overwhelming presence of the Gunners.
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