Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: 3 talking points as Gunners share derby spoils

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<p>&mdash; now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://twitter.com/now_arsenaI/status/1705992112079085819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>We have heard that Rice was nursing a calf injury, but then another report stated he was dealing with a back issue.</p> <p>Either way, Rice being injured leaves Arsenal with bare bones in the heart of the midfield. Not ideal.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide&#8230;</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;Talking Point #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136578" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-136578 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1687040166-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1687040166-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1687040166-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1687040166-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1687040166-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">Gabriel Jesus was used down the left on Sunday. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>2. Gabriel Jesus fully fit is a game changer</h2> <p>In the last couple of weeks, the Brazilian star has been getting into the sort of groove that made him unplayable last season. Against Spurs, Jesus did everything but get on the scoresheet as his trademark pressing game was superb.</p> <p>He seemed to be Arsenal’s only spark in the second half as going forward, the team looked lost at times by trying to force the ball to Saka.</p> <p>If Jesus can keep up this level of play, then goals will no doubt follow.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136564" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-136564 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1698743062-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698743062-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698743062-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698743062-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698743062-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">Saliba starred in the derby. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. William Saliba again superb</h2> <p>This is now becoming the norm for Saliba as his performances are simply superb. The only danger is that we become accustomed to this level of play and take it for granted.</p> <p>Against Spurs, Saliba was great at evading the press and did it with ease as several times, his recovery speed was on show.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="xdwzYNfbR3"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/24/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-player-ratings/">Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Player ratings as spoils shared in North London Derby</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Player ratings as spoils shared in North London Derby” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-3-talking-points-gunners-share-derby-spoils/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/24/arsenal-2-2-tottenham-player-ratings/embed/#?secret=mdSQqP8Snk#?secret=xdwzYNfbR3" data-secret="xdwzYNfbR3" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>He’s clearly Arsenal’s best defender and against Spurs, he showed why. Sublime.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">