Harry Kane will grab the headlines for his winning goal, but the Spurs midfielder controlled the north London derbyShortly after the only goal of this bruising north London derby Arsène Wenger could be seen standing on the touchline, swirling the skirts of his sodden, quilted gown as he mimed a shove and bellowed the word “Push” at the teeming skies.There are few human beings so adept at conveying a sense of doomed betrayal with just a flourish of those great gangling arms but, to his credit, Wenger accepted after the game that Harry Kane had outmuscled, rather than fouled, his central defence while heading in Tottenham’s winner. Related: Harry Kane header claims the spoils for Spurs against lacklustre Arsenal Related:...
Despite the latest inevitable Wengerian response, there is also a recklessness in his dotage, as though the slide from the top four has liberated himThere comes perhaps a point in the lives of men at which the usual considerations no longer seem to apply. Hang around long enough and you’re allowed a certain licence. The foul-smelling tobacco becomes an amusing quirk, the brash waistcoat evidence of individuality, the brusque repartee a life-affirming sign of energy. He’s packing the team with inconsistent creators and failing to address the concerns at the back of midfield? That’s just Arsène Wenger, dear: you won’t change him now.A rare mood of optimism seems to have settled over the Emirates Stadium, although there have been plenty...
Sam Allardyce looks to next season, Swansea find belief under Carlos Carvalhal and Liverpool’s defence worthy of praiseGet The Recap, the best of the Guardian’s sport coverageLiverpool’s oft-maligned defence deserved a little credit here. For almost the entire game they kept Spurs at bay, with Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk making important blocks and Loris Karius looking a decisive shot‑stopper. Perhaps Liverpool could have been slightly quicker to close down Victor Wanyama when the Spurs substitute equalised but when Karius stood tall to deny Harry Kane from the penalty spot it appeared the home side had answered most of the criticisms of their defensive solidity. When Mohamed Salah scored at the other end in the 91st minute Anfield was...
The two players were prolific together at Dortmund and could bring back the high-velocity style of Wenger’s best teams of oldA few years ago, when Jens Lehmann was in between spells as an Arsenal player and coach, he explained a key to the Invincibles team with a teasing question: “What is the fastest thing on a football pitch?” he asked cryptically, looking smug as he waited for the wrong answer. “It’s not the ball,” he added, before the big reveal: “Nobody is faster on the pitch than a thought. And then the ball comes. And then the players come. I can honestly say between 2003 and 2006 we played such fast football. One touch. It was amazing to see.”Fast football....
Chelsea’s manager was out-tacticked by Arsène Wenger in the defeat at Arsenal and what once might have been an acceptable season is anything but in this time of super-clubsAntonio Conte’s reign at Chelsea, or at least the meaningful part of it, began with a half-time switch to a back three at the Emirates, and it feels a lot like it has ended with the same. The Champions League could yet save a drifting season – memories of that win away against Atlético have not entirely faded – but it was the feel of Wednesday night that was so damning. When, after all, was the last time anybody was out-tacticked by Arsène Wenger?It was at half-time in the 3-0 defeat away...