3 positives & negatives from Tottenham's 0-1 loss against Arsenal

The 196th North London derby didn’t go Tottenham's way as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal. With Ange Postecoglou fielding a strong lineup, including Vicario, Romero, Maddison, Son, and record-signing Dominic Solanke, hopes were high for Spurs. However, it turned out to be another frustrating evening for the Lilywhites.

Here are three key positives and negatives from the match.

3 positives & negatives from Tottenham's 0-1 loss against Arsenal

Positives

1. Vicario’s resilience: Guglielmo Vicario once again showed his class between the sticks. He pulled off key saves to keep out Havertz and Martinelli in the first half, preventing Arsenal from running away with it early on. Despite the result, Vicario’s performances have been a real bright spot in an otherwise frustrating season.

2. Energetic start: Spurs began the game brightly, with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke having early opportunities to take the lead. The Swedish winger, in particular, looked sharp, finding space in the box and causing problems for the Arsenal defence. Although these chances didn’t convert, Tottenham were initially proactive and looked capable of breaking the deadlock.

3. Improved pressing: One of the few bright spots for Tottenham was their pressing game. Several high turnovers led to promising opportunities, such as Solanke catching Arsenal out from the back early on and Pape Sarr’s long-range effort later in the game. Postecoglou’s side effectively disrupted Arsenal’s build-up at times.

Negatives

1. Set-piece woes: Once again, Tottenham conceded from a set piece, a recurring issue under Postecoglou. Gabriel’s free header from a corner in the 64th minute was the decisive moment of the match. This vulnerability at set-pieces has become a real problem, and unless Spurs can tighten up in these situations, it will continue to cost them crucial points.

2. Lack of creativity and penetration: Despite controlling possession for large parts of the game, Tottenham really struggled to carve out clear-cut chances. It felt like a lot of aimless crosses and hopeful balls, with no real threat. Raya wasn’t tested enough, and for all the possession Spurs had, it never felt like a goal was coming.

3. Romero’s defensive lapses: Cristian Romero has been brilliant this season, but he had another off day against Arsenal. He left Gabriel unmarked for the goal, adding to recent defensive mistakes. As much of a leader as he is at the back, these errors are becoming too frequent and costing Spurs when it matters.

This defeat marks back-to-back home losses in the North London derby, and Tottenham must quickly regroup. With glaring issues in both defence and attack, Postecoglou will have plenty to ponder. The game exposed Tottenham’s frailties at set pieces and their struggles to break down teams that sit deep. Improvements are needed, especially with tougher fixtures on the horizon.