Tottenham Hotspur’s recent loss to Arsenal in the North London Derby, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has remained steadfast in his approach to defending set-pieces, despite criticism. Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory due to a header by Gabriel Magalhães in the second half, a result that highlights Tottenham’s ongoing struggles with defending against set-pieces, having conceded 18 goals from these situations since the start of the previous season, with only Nottingham Forest conceding more. Postecoglou, who has been criticized for the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, insists that the team continuously works on set-pieces and emphasizes that he does care about improving this aspect.
He acknowledged that while Tottenham managed to defend well for the majority of the game, they conceded a goal due to a lapse in concentration, and he accepts responsibility for the team’s performance. He also emphasized the need for finer details and for translating their current style of play into meaningful results.
Under Postecoglou’s leadership, Tottenham has won only once in the league this season, with a record of three wins and seven losses from their last eleven league games. In the recent match against Arsenal, Tottenham struggled to capitalize on their early attacking opportunities, and Postecoglou noted that the players need to show more belief and conviction in the final third.
He pointed out that the team’s lack of belief in finishing opportunities has been a recurring issue this season. Postecoglou stressed the importance of continuous effort and proper guidance for the players to improve their performance.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, has expressed the significant challenges he faced in preparing for the derby, including dealing with player availability issues that disrupted his plans. Arsenal’s 1-0 win marked their third consecutive away league victory at Tottenham, a feat not achieved since 1988.
Arteta highlighted the difficulties caused by absences due to suspension and injury, including key players like Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney. Despite the challenges, Arteta commended his team’s resilience and ability to adapt, noting that they embraced the situation with increased determination and courage.
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Ødegaard, who sustained an ankle injury, is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks, affecting his availability for upcoming matches against Atalanta in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League. Arteta concluded by stating that Arsenal will need to wait for further assessments regarding Ødegaard’s availability.
