They huffed, they puffed, and, for a while, they threatened. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium felt like a different place compared to the rest of this season on Sunday, but, after the hour mark, that was because of the wrong reasons. They had been beaten by Arsenal again.
But who put in a heroic performance in their best game for Arsenal? Which away defender’s calmness shone through? And who went missing for the home side?
Before kick-off in Igor Tudor’s first game in charge, the crowd was loud, the players were being backed and the atmosphere felt different. Thomas Frank was no more, and a win over Arsenal, which would have boosted their own survival hopes and dented their rival’s title ambitions, would have been the perfect place to start. But it wasn’t to be.
Tudor has one mission: keep Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. He will not be judged on this game – but he now has 11 games to make sure the four-point gap to the bottom three doesn’t hit zero.
As for Arsenal, it’s a game closer to glory. The clash with Manchester City on April 18 may ultimately be the title decider, but this may have been their most important result of the season so far, all things considered.
Daily Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to rate the players.
Arsenal got the better of Tottenham in the north London derby in a major boost to their Premier League title hopes
Mikel Arteta’s side were pegged back after going 1-0 up but wen onto win the match 4-1
TOTTENHAM (3-5-2)
Guglielmo Vicario – 5.5
Wildly came out of his net on five minutes. Looked shaky but made some decent saves.
Archie Gray – 5.5
Continues to play whatever position is required. Brushed aside for Viktor Gyokeres’s second goal.
Joao Palhinha – 5.5
Kept getting bypassed by the opposition players and found exposed at the back.
Radu Dragusin – 5.5
A couple of good clearances close to goal line early on, but lacked when needed.
Micky van De Ven – 6
Strong in tackles. Had much to deal with, Arsenal having turned the screw in second half.
Djed Spence – 5
Promising signs early on — but then withered with much of the Gunners’s joy coming down the right.
Yves Bissouma – 5
Poor in in the build-up to Eberechi’s Eze’s second goal as he jogged back. Needed more effort.
Conor Gallagher – 5.5
Went missing in the midfield. Needed to bring more to the table in a game like this.
Conor Gallagher (left) went missing in the Spurs midfield – he needs to bring more in these kind of games
It was a nightmare start for Igor Tudor, who has been tasked with keeping Tottenham in the Premier League
Pape Matar Sarr – 5.5
Saka bypassed him for Eze’s first goal. A lacklustre showing.
Randal Kolo Muani – 7
Made the most of his chances, scoring one and had a second effort ruled out. Spurs’ best player.
Xavi Simons – 5
Ineffective. Unable to make much happen when on the ball. Disappointing.
Manager
Igor Tudor – 5
A highly uninspiring start to his Spurs reign.
ARSENAL (4-3-3)
David Raya – 7.5
Confident in the air and distributed the ball well. Top save off his line on 84 minutes. Much needed after Wolves error.
Jurrien Timber – 7
Provided an assist for Gyokeres. Good connection with Bukayo Saka on the right flank.
William Saliba – 6.5
Ventured forward, making up much ground. Arguably could’ve been more alive in build-up to Spurs’s goal.
Gabriel – 6.5
Went down softly for Kolo Muani’s ruled out goal. Paired well as usual with Saliba.
Gabriel (right) partnered well with William Saliba (left) again, but was lucky when Randal Kolo Muani had a second goal ruled out
Piero Hincapie – 7
Kept calm throughout. Neat through ball for Saka on 37 minutes nearly led to a goal.
Eberechi Eze – 8
Spurs’ big nemesis haunts them once again. Struck a hat-trick vs them in November — and now a brace. Wow.
Martin Zubimendi – 6.5
Often got the ball in deep areas. Could’ve played more forward passes.
Declan Rice – 6.5
A rare error allowed Randal Kolo Muani in to score. Not at his usual sky-high standards.
Bukayo Saka – 7.5
A constant nuisance. Set up Eze’s first goal and involved in his second. Lively throughout.
Viktor Gyokeres – 8.5
Heroic – his best game for Arsenal. Had a shot whistle wide on seven minutes, before later scoring a brace. He’s arrived.
Leandro Trossard – 5.5
A quiet display. Didn’t get on the ball much. When he did, Trossard failed to create.
Viktor Gyokeres had his best game for Arsenal, netting a brace for the Gunners in the capital
Manager
Mikel Arteta – 7
Will be relieved to get back to winning ways in the league with a thumping scoreline.
Referee
Peter Bankes – 6.5
