Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal (Lloris og 14′, Odegaard 35′)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — Up until a chaotic end in which he was attacked by an idiotic supporter whose days of visiting the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are now over, Aaron Ramsdale had enjoyed the sort of day that goalkeepers often can only dream about.
But before addressing the seven saves and the superb side volleys that sent Arsenal’s stream of counter-attackers scampering up the pitch, it’s worth revisiting the unsavoury incident that drew players, coaches, and yellow-vested security guards rushing hurriedly across to the front of the south stand.
The first thing to say is that the fan who decided to descend a row of seats, stand on an advertising hoarding and aim a cowardly kick at Ramsdale as his back was turned, must never be allowed in this or any stadium ever again. Thankfully, that moment of idiocy did not spark something more sinister.
Secondly, it highlighted the maddening double standards that exist between supporters and players. Ramsdale suggested afterwards that there was, for want of a better word, banter exchanged between himself and the fans behind the goal, which was light-natured until it wasn’t. Some supporters of every club spend their Saturday and Sunday afternoons hurling abuse at opposition players, but clutch their pearls if they receive any back.
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“The Spurs fans were giving me some [stick] throughout the second half [and] I gave them some back, which to the few people I did it too was probably well greeted, sportsmanship-like,” he said afterwards. “And then a fan jumped over and gave me a little punch in the back so yeah that’s what happened. It’s a shame because it’s just a game of football at the end of the day.”
Thirdly, Ramsdale possesses that devilment that only goalkeepers seem to. Ramsdale joined Arsenal in the same summer that Emi Martinez was sold to Aston Villa. You imagine that the two would get on quite well. Ramsdale celebrates every Arsenal goal as if he’s scored it himself. He’s a sports photographer’s dream, a gurning, fist-pumping ball of energy to which the camera lens is naturally drawn.
Now to his best bits. Arsenal were deservedly in front at the break, with Hugo Lloris – more on him later – gifting them a first and Martin Odegaard sliding in a second. But that lead would have been much less comfortable had Ramsdale not prevented a glancing Harry Kane header from sneaking in at his near post in stoppage time. It was the type of save an elite keeper is expected to make, but one that also only those with surgeon-like concentration levels do. Son Heung-min was also kept out with the scoreline at 1-0.
Spurs only had four attempts on goal in the first half, but 10 minutes into the second they had already more than doubled that tally. It was, considering how everything panned out, perhaps the pivotal point in the match: and it was defined by Ramsdale. He thwarted Kane again with a flying stop to his right before pulling out a Schmeichel starfish to divert a Ryan Sessegnon effort wide soon after. They were big moments, produced at the perfect time.
Spurs, as they tend to do, left themselves too much to do after a dismal first-half showing, but will be left pondering what might have been had one of those chances found the net.
Following a scrappy period in which possession was tossed from one team to the other like a frisbee, there was a late rally from the home side in which Ramsdale stood firm once more, holding onto awkward, skidding strikes from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski that were begging to be fumbled.
While Ramsdale earned the man of the match display for his heroics, Lloris faced a familiar inquest after committing another mistake that proved vital.
Arsenal strike first in the North London derby and it's a moment Hugo Lloris will want to forget!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023pic.twitter.com/VvKBUX4BdN
In the reverse fixture, Lloris spilt a Bukayo Saka effort into Gabriel Jesus’ path to score a tap-in, gifting Arsenal a lead that they did not relinquish; this time he shovelled a Saka cross-shot directly into his own goal to gift Arsenal a lead that they did not relinquish.
During his time at Spurs, Lloris has committed 24 errors leading to goals in the Premier League, half of which have been against “Big Six” opponents. It was Lloris’ first ever own goal in the Premier League coming in his 354th appearance. What a time to get it. As was the case at the Emirates, Lloris’ mistake set the tone.
Last May, Spurs inflicted such a seismic blow on Arsenal that many wondered whether Mikel Arteta’s side would be able to bounce back this season. Such concerns seem foolish now. The Gunners are eight points clear at the top of the table and 17 ahead of Spurs. From being virtual equals eight months ago, they are now stratospheres apart.
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