Defending in opposition to Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur in a low-block isn’t the best of duties. The extensive mixtures between the winger, full-back and No 8 makes it a tedious process, and the dynamism of their motion and rotations solely makes it tougher.

Within the first half, Arsenal’s defensive organisation restricted that menace. Defending out of a 4-4-2, one among Arsenal’s wingers would drop to kind a situational again 5 in the direction of the aspect the place Tottenham had been making an attempt to assault, whereas the opposite tucked in subsequent to the double pivot to minimise the house.

In the meantime, William Saliba and Gabriel had been alert to change markers with Arsenal’s double pivot when Dominic Solanke dropped deeper and Tottenham had been looking for runners in behind the defence. As well as, Partey and Jorginho dropped to fill within the gaps within the defensive position.

Within the second half it was anticipated that Tottenham would enhance the strain, particularly after Gabriel put Arsenal within the lead, however extra blocks and Raya being in place to save lots of extra pictures earned Arsenal a deserved victory.