The excellence of Eriksen can’t stop stalemate
ANTONIO CONTE’S toothless Tottenham slipped up again to make it advantage Arsenal in the scrap for fourth spot.
For the second time in a week, the north Londoners failed to register a shot on target in the Christian Eriksen classico and they trail the Gunners by two points with five games left.
It would have been worse had Eriksen (below) not been denied by Hugo Lloris’ smart save in the second period.
The greeting from all sides of the ground for football’s miracle man, along with hugs from his old Spurs pals, said everything about his popularity.
The Dane is clearly loved everywhere and had recorded five wins from five Brentford starts before this clash as his side secured safety.
Apart from the two title-chasers, nobody had been in better form over the past five weeks than Brentford and Spurs, with five and four wins respectively.
Tottenham could have reclaimed fourth place from Arsenal with another win but never came close.
The Bees made the brighter start, with Bryan Mbeumo’s deflected strike flying wide after four minutes of incessant possession.
Then Ivan Toney had a first-time effort blocked by Rodrigo Bentancur’s chest as Conte’s side struggled
Brentford 0 Tottenham 0
to find any rhythm.
And on 19 minutes hitman Toney powered Eriksen’s corner against the bar.
The busy former White Hart Lane hero took six corners before the midway point of the half – most found the desired target and Toney thought he had scored from one until it struck Ryan Sessegnon.
Conte was waving his arms in frustration, furiously barking instructions to push out and up. Bentancur finally let rip with Spurs’ first shot on 30 minutes but it was wildly off-target.
The second half began as the first had, with Spurs pegged back until Harry Kane produced his only effort of the game.
That sparked a change in momentum. Tottenham had three shots in quick succession, though none troubled the keeper.
Time for magical Eriksen to take a grip and he so nearly broke the deadlock with a low drive that Lloris scrambled round the post. Then in the dying seconds, Toney’s header from Eriksen’s free-kick struck the post.
BRENTFORD: Rays 6; Roerslev 7, Jansson 7, Sorensen 7, Henry 7; Janelt 7, Jensen 7 (Dasilva 78), Eriksen 8; Mbeumo 7, Ghoddos 7 (Wissa 78),
Toney 8.
TOTTENHAM: Lloris 6; Romero 6,
Dier 6, Davies 6; Royal 6 (Moura 86), Bentancur 6, Sessegnon 7 (Sanchez
74, 6), Hojbjerg 6; Kulusevski 6, Son 7; Kane 6.
MAN OF THE MATCH: CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – Brentford playmaker showed why he is wanted by the big guns with a vintage display
REF: M Atkinson