Critics: Wenger has the last laugh
ARSENAL GIVE TOTTENHAM LITTLE RESPITE Pochettino angry over some of Mike Dean’s decisions.
Arsene Wenger insisted he never doubted Arsenal would prove the critics wrong as his side’s controversial 2-0 win over Tottenham slowed their rivals’ bid for north London supremacy.
When Arsenal finished below Spurs in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years last season, frustrated fans stepped up their calls for Wenger to quit.
Arsenal’s erratic start to the season, combined with Tottenham’s fine form, had only increased the pressure on Wenger.
But the Gunners boss believed his players were too good to stay stuck in a rut.
They finally rewarded that faith with a vibrant display on Saturday, securing their first league win against Tottenham since March 2014 to show the local balance of power hasn’t been seized by their hated neighbours just yet.
“We played with purpose, a desire to be efficient and good solidarity from the first minute. We produced an immense performance,” Wenger said.
Key to Arsenal’s impressive performance was a tenacity that has often eluded them in the past.
Even Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Oezil, two players’ whose commitment has been doubted as they look to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season, delivered fired-up contributions.
Tottenham’s latest flop in an away game at one of their top-six rivals punctured the optimism of their recent victory over European champions Real Madrid and dented their title hopes.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was furious with referee Mike Dean and his officials.
Pochettino felt Dean was wrong to award the free-kick that led to Shkodran Mustafi’s opener and claimed Alexandre Lacazette was offside in the build-up to Sanchez’s goal.
Video replays appeared to support his view.
“It was so clear. It’s tough to explain when you lose this way,” he said.
“Some big details changed the game. Granit Xhaka should have had a second yellow card. If you analyse the game, until we conceded the goal we were doing well.
“It is a massive mistake, it’s not one mistake, it’s two. It wasn’t a foul and then it was offside.”
However, Pochettino refused to accept his side have a mental block against their title rivals, claiming no-one has it easy away.
“We are in the same situation as everyone, for Manchester United it was difficult to play at Chelsea, for Arsenal it was difficult at Manchester City,” he said. – AFP