Arsenal handed another defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the latest iteration of the North London derby which officially sealed the fates of both clubs in the league.
Arsenal, with the victory, sealed UEFA Champions League football for the second-straight season while Spurs were officially ruled out of Europe’s elite competition.
The more damaging implication of the loss is that they have now failed to beat Arsenal once again, which further weakens their claim to supremacy in the north of England’s capital city, London.
Spurs showed a lack of passion as Arsenal quickly went two goals up in the first 30 minutes – which would have been three, if not for VAR intervention. By the end of the first half, Arsenal were three goals up and coasting to another victory. Spurs fought back to reduce the deficit to one goal but it was not enough in the end as the Gunners ran home with all three points.
Postecoglou was not unhappy at the effort put in by his team to reduce the deficit but he was unhappy at how the first half went.
The Australian’s underlying message pointed to the absence of the incredible fighting spirit that his team showed in the second half, in the first half.
Speaking to Spurs media, the manager said: “Look, it’s a disappointing outcome for us. It’s a big day for the club, a big day for our fans and we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, so obviously it’s a very disappointing day.
“It was about a general understanding of big games, big moments, we just lacked some focus today, particularly in the first half in those key moments and it’s stuff we’ve got to learn and sometimes you’ve got to feel the pain of it to learn that lesson properly.
“You could go out there in the second half, accept your fate and say it’s not your day, but we had to show some resilience and fight, for our supporters more than anything else.”
Meanwhile, Spurs fans are still seething over the circumstances that led to Bukayo Saka’s goal for Arsenal.
Spurs had two penalty claims denied before Arsenal’s second goal. The second one was when James Maddison was fouled in the Arsenal box but the referee ignored the calls for a penalty from the Spurs players as Arsenal carried on with a counter attack. Maddison was still on the ground when the Arsenal end erupted in celebration following Saka’s goal.
Gary Neville sides with the referees in his segment on Sky Sports, further driving the stake deeper into Spurs’ hearts.
“The Tottenham fans are furious but they weren’t penalties for me at the other end,” Neville said.
