Arsenal Is Slipping Alarmingly Off The Pace – Martin Keown

Thomas Partey’ recent injury is another example of Arsenal’s footballing brain not functioning, Martin Keown has said.

He recently revealed that even if Spurs looked the real deal yesterday, Arsenal is currently slipping alarmingly off the pace.

According to him, no one in an Arsenal jersey troubled Son before his world-class opener, and he cannot understand how Arsenal kept losing possession carelessly to give Tottenham the upper hand.

He added that Arsenal had 70 per cent possession, but Spurs knew what to do when they didn’t have the ball, and that decided the game.

His words, “It was a world-class opener by Son Heung-min but nobody in an Arsenal shirt tested him. With the time he had, he could have got a protractor out to measure the angles of the shot.

“Then Tottenham’s second goal was a copy of the first: Arsenal lost possession high up the pitch and were punished on the counter. Thomas Partey had walked off because he was injured, and this was an example of a team’s footballing brain not functioning.

“Both of Arsenal’s full backs, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney, had flown forward as if they were still being used as wing backs. Suddenly, one ball out and it was four on two in favour of Tottenham.

“Where was the communication? Arsenal over-committed in this game and encouraged the opposition to break.

“Tottenham, meanwhile, were compact and picked their moments to pounce. Their two midfielders, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko, were never too far from their central defenders.”

“Arsenal had 70 per cent possession but Spurs knew what to do when they didn’t have the ball. They put up a shield. Even Harry Kane had more touches in his own box than the opposition one.

“Tottenham’s players are working so hard and have bought into Jose Mourinho’s messages. They’re morphing from a group of nice guys into a team of Mourinhos.”