It was a frustrating north London derby for Arsenal in many ways, but it could have been much worse, especially after Tottenham took the lead against the run of play. The visitors certainly put up a sterling effort to stop us from scoring, so finding a leveller took a great deal of desire and determination.
But it also took a fair bit of attacking flair and the man who scored the goal for Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, reckons that the game shows that Arsenal are really starting to find some form. He told Arsenal.com that he thought there were plenty of positives to take from the game, especially the way that Arsenal moved the ball and dominated the visitors. The Gunners made some good use of our 69 percent possession as well, creating nine chances and having 16 shots, although many were blocked by the stalwart Spurs defence.
The Ox explained that Arsenal’s passing and intricate style of play does not come easily and has not really beens seen enough so far this season, but he says that yesterday’s game is proof that it is almost there, although he admitted that there is still more to9 come for us to be at our best.
Chamberlain said, “I don’t think [we’ve been at our best yet]. We’ve been hard to beat at times, which is good, and we have shown that never-give-up attitude – especially earlier in the season when we nicked a late winner against Crystal Palace and came back to draw at Everton.
“That’s good, as is the fact that we haven’t lost yet in the league. Last week against Aston Villa we went 3-0 up in quick fashion and then killed the game really well. After that we were a bit more relaxed and played more fluently – we were a bit more like ourselves, so I think it is coming together again.
“Sometimes it can a take a few games to start playing the way we like to play, and it is easier said than done. But the important thing is that we haven’t been losing and I am sure that the attacking fluency will come back and we will come good.
“Lots of the squad came back at different times and we obviously had the three German boys who were World Cup winners and only came back on August 11. So for them it must have been quite hard to get settled so late in pre-season.
“It is tough fitness-wise when you’ve had three or four weeks off and come back in when your team-mates and everyone else in the Premier League is at full fitness and you have to catch up really quickly. They have done really well to have bedded in and contributed as much as they have considering they came back so late.
“One of the good things with the way the squad is now is that there is so much quality in numbers that the boss can pick from boys who are fresher than others at times, so that helps as well. That is going to important for the rest of the season as the games come thick and fast.”
With Arteta, Ramsey and possibly Wilshere and Diaby out of action for the Champions League tie with Galatasaray on Wednesday, that squad depth is going to be tested, but if the Ox can repeat his Man of the Match heroics against the Turks then the Gunners have a great chance of winning and taking another step towards being in full flow. What do you think Gooners?