Arsenal Vs Spurs: The good, the bad, the ugly – Defenders falter again

The Ugly: Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, and David Luiz

For anyone who truly bought into Shkodran Mustafi’s 2020 renaissance, his display on Sunday was a slap in the face. The German committed a calamity of errors, but it was really just the same old Mustafi: cheap giveaways in possession, terrible spacial awareness, and an inability to defend one-on-ones without sliding in recklessly. With only a year left on his contract, he surely needs to be sold this summer.

Lining up on the left side of the back three, Sead Kolasinac always looked like the weakest link in the Arsenal defence. He is an extremely limited player on the ball and positionally has been caught out several times in every game he has started recently. His loose pass set up Son Heung-min to equalize less than three minutes after Alexandre Lacazette’s opening strike, which epitomised the panic and poor decision-making that he plays with.

David Luiz, at the heart of the back three, wasn’t nearly as disastrous, though he often lost Harry Kane when the Spurs striker drifted in behind. He is much more comfortable in possession, but he is equally as susceptible to foolish defensive errors and a lack of focus and concentration.

While Arteta’s switch to a back three has improved Arsenal’s defensive performances in recent weeks, this match was a reality check and a brutal reminder of the need for investment in competent defenders. A good shape and system can only conceal individual flaws for so long.

<p>In this recap, we take a closer look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from Mikel Arteta’s first North London Derby as manager.</p> <div id="attachment_103460" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103460" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1226595486-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur and Dani Ceballos of Arsenal FC in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>The Good: Emiliano Martinez, Dani Ceballos, and Hector Bellerin</h4> <p>When Bernd Leno returns from injury next season, he may have a tough time getting back into the first XI. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=emiliano+martinez%22>Emiliano%c2%a0 Martinez</a> has been simply outstanding in every aspect in the German’s absence. His shot-stopping ability has been on par and he actually looks better in other areas such as distribution and coming for crosses. The Argentine was quick off his line to deny Harry Kane on a couple of occasions and he made a spectacular save to tip Ben Davies’s shot from distance onto the bar.</p> <p>In midfield,<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=dani+ceballos%22> Dani Ceballos</a> continued his strong form, working diligently off the ball and playing some excellent penetrating passes forward. He and Granit Xhaka helped Arsenal control large stretches of the game, particularly in the second half when the Gunners had 76% possession. During this spell, they created a few decent chances, the best of which fell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose shot cannoned off the crossbar. Mikel Arteta seems keen on bringing the Spaniard back next season, possibly on another loan, and based on this performance, it is easy to see why.</p> <p>While this was not one of Kieran Tierney’s better games, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=hector+bellerin%22>Hector Bellerin</a> was much improved on the attacking end. He completed three successful dribbles in the first half, more than the entire Spurs team. There was one great chance in particular that he created, racing down the right flank and putting in a decent cross which Aubameyang uncharacteristically scuffed. They say competition breeds excellence. Perhaps the arrival of Cedric Soares has lit a fire under Bellerin, who looks substantially sharper and more focused.</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/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Bad: Defending set-pieces </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103461" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103461" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1255766470-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Tim Goode/Pool via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>The Bad: Defending set-pieces</h4> <p>Per <em>Opta</em>, 45% of the goals Arsenal that have conceded this season have come from set-pieces, which is the highest percentage in the Premier League. Lapses in concentration, poor marking, and an inability to effectively clear the ball have all contributed to this statistic.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </li></ul> </div> <p>We saw this at Brighton from a short corner, at Sheffield United from a long throw-in, and once again in the North London Derby. Tierney, who is only 5-foot-10, was man-marking the 6-foot-3 Toby Alderweireld, who powered in a header to give Spurs the win. Alderweireld is Spurs’ best aerial threat alongside Harry Kane and Davinson Sanchez. Why Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz or Sead Kolasinac did not handle his threat is confusing.</p> <p>This susceptibility to set pieces is certainly nothing new. Arsenal have never been the most secure from set-plays. They are a smaller team that lack defensive organisation and focus at key times. It is a bad combination when dealing with crosses into the box.</p> <p>As Arteta looks to continue improving his team, it ist is something that he and his staff will surely be looking to clean up in the final few weeks of the season and into next year. Such an obvious vulnerability will be exploited.</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/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Ugly: Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, and David Luiz </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103447" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103447" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1255752954-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>The Ugly: Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, and David Luiz</h4> <p>For anyone who truly bought into <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=shkodran+mustafi%22>Shkodran Mustafi’s</a> 2020 renaissance, his display on Sunday was a slap in the face. The German committed a calamity of errors, but it was really just the same old Mustafi: cheap giveaways in possession, terrible spacial awareness, and an inability to defend one-on-ones without sliding in recklessly. With only a year left on his contract, he surely needs to be sold this summer.</p> <p>Lining up on the left side of the back three, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sead+kolasinac%22>Sead Kolasinac</a> always looked like the weakest link in the Arsenal defence. He is an extremely limited player on the ball and positionally has been caught out several times in every game he has started recently. His loose pass set up Son Heung-min to equalize less than three minutes after Alexandre Lacazette’s opening strike, which epitomised the panic and poor decision-making that he plays with.</p> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=david+luiz%22>David Luiz</a>, at the heart of the back three, wasn’t nearly as disastrous, though he often lost Harry Kane when the Spurs striker drifted in behind. He is much more comfortable in possession, but he is equally as susceptible to foolish defensive errors and a lack of focus and concentration.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-vs-spurs-good-bad-ugly-defenders-falter/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned </a> </div> </div> <p>While Arteta’s switch to a back three has improved Arsenal’s defensive performances in recent weeks, this match was a reality check and a brutal reminder of the need for investment in competent defenders. A good shape and system can only conceal individual flaws for so long.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">