Arteta blames misfiring Arsenal stars for derby defeat
Goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane gave Jose Mourinho’s side a 2-0 victory on Sunday (December 6) as Spurs provided a clinical edge that the Gunners missed.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was unable to register a single effort on goal while strike partner Alexandre Lacazette had just two.
This was despite Arsenal enjoying more possession – 69.2 per cent to Tottenham’s 30.8 per cent – and delivering their most crosses (32) in open play since February 2016.
Premier League: Tottenham 2-0 Arsenal: Kane and Son seal north London bragging rights to send Spurs top
It has been a season of struggle for Aubameyang and Lacazette, who have managed a paltry five Premier League goals between them.
By way of comparison Kane and Son have 18 goals and 13 assists together and both got their names on the scoresheet again.
2 – Mikel Arteta is just the second Arsenal manager to lose each of his first two north London derbies, after Bertie Mee in 1966-67. Disappointing. pic.twitter.com/4tx33AuaRr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 6, 2020
“You look at all the stats, they’re in our favour, but at the end of the day it’s about putting the ball in the net,” Arteta told a media conference afterwards.
“We had the chances. We had generated probably more than ever this season, put the ball in the box more than ever, had the numbers there.
“But at the end of the day we have to score the goals, and when they had a half chance they scored, and at the moment we haven’t. To build something, you need results.
“I take a lot of positives for the way we played, when we come here in this moment and play with the personality, the courage, the passion, the energy and the belief the boys showed.
“At the end it’s a football match and you have to win it, and we lost again today.”
32 – Arsenal attempted 32 open play crosses in their 2-0 defeat to Spurs, their most in a single Premier League match since February 2016 vs Leicester (36), and most away from home since March 2011 vs WBA (also 32). Maths.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 6, 2020
When asked how Arsenal, who are now 15th in the table and 11 points behind table-topping Spurs, might turn around their results, Arteta went back to the same theme.
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