After Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, let’s look at seven things we learned from the match.
Arsenal were well beaten on the day, despite the tight scoreline. There’s plenty the team need to reflect on and learn from.
Here are just some of the things to look at or consider:
Arsenal without Aaron Ramsey lack a midfield goal threat
Hat-trick hero against Everton, Ramsey missed out on the North London derby with a groin injury. In his absence, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere combined in a midfield trio.
The three players had two shots, one on target and created zero chances between them.
Even if both shots had went in, it still wouldn’t have been enough to match Ramsey’s Everton goal tally.
As a result, the pressure increased on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Özil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to do it all on their own.
Hopefully the Welshman’s injury isn’t anything serious.
Mkhitaryan still needs time to settle
After his man-of-the-match performance against Everton, many thought Mkhitaryan was going to go from strength-to-strength.
Unfortunately he was wasteful against Tottenham, and Arsene Wenger ended up withdrawing him early.
That happens at a new club, we saw the same from Alexis Sanchez at Wembley with Manchester United.
He just needs time to adjust.
Harry Kane hasn’t lost his edge in North London derbies
Before Saturday’s match, Kane had actually gone three matches against Arsenal without a goal from open play. He put away a couple of penalties, but ended the match at the Emirates with an early substitution.
This time around, he was sharp and made himself a number of great chances, inspired by the huge chip he still carries.
He didn’t convert as many as he usually would, but got the winner nonetheless.
If he stays with Tottenham, we might have to watch a few more performances like this in the years to come.
Europa League is Arsenal’s best chance of Champions League football
Many will say they already knew this, but this is the day it really hit home.
Arsenal could be seven points off the top four by the end of the weekend.
They had the chance to end up two points away, with the right results, but they wasted the opportunity once again.
Wenger needs to prioritise the European competition now.
Petr Čech hasn’t completely lost it
Čech couldn’t keep a clean sheet against Tottenham, but you can’t blame him at all for the goal.
Afterwards, he made save after save to keep Arsenal in the game.
Aside from a bizarre clearance straight to Dele Alli, the goalkeeper was on top of his game.
It’s a shame it all counted for nothing.
Like Lacazette, Aubameyang needs service
The striker took his big chance against Everton brilliantly, but didn’t have any chances in the derby.
For months we have complained about the lack of service for Lacazette, but expected that replacing him with Aubameyang would solve the problem.
Funnily enough, that didn’t work.
Arsenal need to change their system to create more for their strikers.
Arsenal need a centre-back
Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi were nowhere near good enough on Saturday.
Other than Per Mertesacker, they’re the two most experienced central defenders at the club.
If even they can’t put in decent performances in Arsenal’s biggest games, Wenger needs to buy someone who can.
Right now, we’re looking to Calum Chambers, Rob Holding or Konstantinos Mavropanos to solve the problem.
I’m sure they have big futures, but right now that doesn’t fill me with confidence.