Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta has a hard job

3. Shkodran Mustafi is terrible

Even before the final 15 minutes, Shkodran Mustafi was enduring yet another horrible performance. While he hadn’t wilted defensively yet, actually holding off Lucas Moura relatively well before the final stages, his play in possession was atrocious.

In a back-three-based system, the wide centre-backs will usually have the most time and space on the ball. They have room to step out and carry the ball into the midfield and then should have the opportunity play progressive passes forward, either into the wide channel ahead of them or into the feet of an attacking teammate.

Mustafi never did this. Even worse, sometimes he didn’t even try. He took too many touches of the ball, would allow Harry Kane to press him, before turning around and playing pass back to David Luiz or Emiliano Martinez. There was no progression, no calmness, no ability to move Arsenal up the pitch. And even when he did look to play forwards, he had neither the vision or the skill to do so effectively.

Then the final 15 minutes happened. Hapless decision-making, wild challenges, charging out of defence to find himself awfully out of position. It was peak Mustafi, a clear sign of how poor a defender he truly is. Arsenal will not have success with Mustafi anchoring their defence.

<p>Here are five things we learned from<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53286342"> the 2-1 defeat</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_103449" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103449" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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%2F1226490691-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>5. Emiliano Martinez excellent again</h4> <p>There were not many positives for Arsenal to draw from Sunday’s outing. They were dominant for a 30-minute period after half-time and Alexandre Lacazette scored a stunner, his second away goal in the Premier League in a week. Beyond that, there was only one obvious plus point: the excellent performance of<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=emiliano+martinez%22> Emiliano Martinez</a>.</p> <p>The shot-stopper made three excellent saves. The first was to deny Harry Kane’s lob, reaching high to collect the ball and bring it into his chest. The second was to flick Ben Davies’ sensational long-range strike onto the crossbar. And the final stop, which might have been the best of the lot, came in the second half when he scrambled across goal to smother Son Heung-min’s first touch as Kane rolled the ball across the penalty area.</p> <p>Martinez has been superb ever since he debuted for the injured Bernd Leno. His command of the penalty area has been most pleasing, while his distribution is quicker and more accurate than Leno’s. This was excellent display from the Argentinian who is starting to prove that he is more than a back-up.</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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Europa League gone? </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103446" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103446" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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%2F1226592724-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by TIM GOODE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>4. Europa League gone?</h4> <p>Entering the Premier League’s restart, Arsenal harboured hopes of challenging for the Champions League places. While they had ground to make up, Mikel Arteta had made great progress with the team and there was hope that they could reel off several victories in succession to close the gap. But after drawing with Leicester City and losing to Spurs, with Liverpool still to play, the opposite is happening.</p> <p>Following the weekend’s result, Arsenal now sit in ninth position. They are four points behind Sheffield United, who currently sit in seventh position, which is likely to be the final Europa League spot with Manchester City’s UEFA ban. A decision on their appeal will be made on Monday.</p> <p>It is a bleak picture. Even worse, they face Liverpool in midweek and are likely to drop points there. With Spurs now above them and Wolves, Sheffield United, Manchester United and Chelsea all pulling away, no European football whatsoever next season beckons. That would be very strange indeed.</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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Shkodran Mustafi is terrible </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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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>3. Shkodran Mustafi is terrible</h4> <p>Even before the final 15 minutes, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=shkodran+mustafi%22>Shkodran Mustafi</a> was enduring yet another horrible performance. While he hadn’t wilted defensively yet, actually holding off Lucas Moura relatively well before the final stages, his play in possession was atrocious.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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>In a back-three-based system, the wide centre-backs will usually have the most time and space on the ball. They have room to step out and carry the ball into the midfield and then should have the opportunity play progressive passes forward, either into the wide channel ahead of them or into the feet of an attacking teammate.</p> <p>Mustafi never did this. Even worse, sometimes he didn’t even try. He took too many touches of the ball, would allow Harry Kane to press him, before turning around and playing pass back to David Luiz or Emiliano Martinez. There was no progression, no calmness, no ability to move Arsenal up the pitch. And even when he did look to play forwards, he had neither the vision or the skill to do so effectively.</p> <p>Then the final 15 minutes happened. Hapless decision-making, wild challenges, charging out of defence to find himself awfully out of position. It was peak Mustafi, a clear sign of how poor a defender he truly is. Arsenal will not have success with Mustafi anchoring their defence.</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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Sead Kolasinac is even worse </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103448" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103448" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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%2F1226490174-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s first goal 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>2. Sead Kolasinac is even worse</h4> <p>For however poor Mustafi was, and he most certainly was disastrous,<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sead+kolasinac%22> Sead Kolasinac</a> was even worse. Playing on the left side of the back three, opposite of Mustafi, he suffered the exact same problems at the German, only he did not defend at least vaguely capably for the first 75 minutes.</p> <p>Panic exudes Kolasinac, whether he has the ball or not. Whenever a cross comes towards him, he immediately looks uncomfortable, unsure of how to deal with it. In possession, he always gesticulates to those around him, clearly worried about releasing a pass. When faced with an opposing attacker, he either wildly dives in or backs off, frightened of what they might do.</p> <p>The epitome of his inability came for Son Heung-min’s goal. It started with a panicked control of the ball. He then dribbled backwards, again trying to run away from the problem. Then, instead of calmly sliding a simple pass into Granit Xhaka to evade the Spurs press and immediately release pressure, he panicked, playing the wrong pass back to David Luiz. It was overhit and Son duly collected the ball and scored. It was a disastrous performance from a disastrous player.</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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Mikel Arteta needs help </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103450" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103450" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/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%2F1255757848-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Tim Goode/Pool via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>1. Mikel Arteta needs help</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=mikel+arteta%22>Mikel Arteta</a> should not be completely absolved of blame. His substitutions were slow and conservative, the system is a patchwork and not a long-term solution, while the manager is the leader of the time and has to be at least somewhat accountable for their individual errors. That said, the majority of the blame for this defeat lies with the players, not Arteta, and it leaves the Spaniard needing help.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_103443" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Arteta can only do so much, and as he hinted at in his post-match interview, the controlled performance his team produced is a sign of the progress he is making but that it is undermined by the individual mistakes of the players. Arteta is a chef working with gone off vegetables.</p> <p>On this occasion, Jose Mourinho’s defensive approach was ideal for the specific game. Looking longer-term, however, Arteta has made the greater progress with his new team, instilling an identity, system, philosophy, and culture. But he now needs the tools to compete at the highest level.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Spurs: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-player-ratings-sell-mustafi-kolasinac/" 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/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-player-ratings-sell-mustafi-kolasinac/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Spurs: Player ratings </a> </div> </div> <p>As Unai Emery before him, Arteta is hamstrung by the players he is working with. Until Arsenal provide him with a better squad, matches like this will continue to haunt them.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">