Playing for 90
Fansided

Tottenham news: Pochettino reiterates his belief that Arsenal were lucky to win

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Tottenham could have used more luck against Arsenal

Mauricio Pochettino is a manager who firmly understands that good luck can help Tottenham win football matches. Unfortunately, the Spurs manager also knows that bad luck can cost his club in big matches like last weekend’s North London Derby.

Pochettino was quite clear in his belief that Arsenal received more than their share of good fortune to win the match.  In advance of Tottenham’s match against Dortmund he repeated his stance that Granit Xhaka should have been sent off after two rash challenges in the first half for the Gunners.

The Spurs gaffer also pointed out that Arsenal’s first goal was aided by a questionable foul call on Davinson Sanchez that gave Arsene Wenger’s squad a free kick in a dangerous area. That referee’s mistake was compounded by the linesman’s failure to judge Shkodran Mustafi offside as he finished off the free kick for the opening goal.

In some ways, these words do sound like hollow excuses from a manager whose squad didn’t really turn up for the match. Many Spurs fans, myself included, were very disappointed at the absence of real desire and passion from the squad. We expect more from Tottenham against Arsenal.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

On the other hand, Pochettino isn’t wrong. The question of whether or not Xhaka should have been sent off is certainly open to interpretation. I’m inclined to agree with Pochettino, but I’m also not what you’d call an impartial observer. If he would have seen red the match could have gone much differently.

What’s not open to logical debate are the two issues Pochettino raised about the first goal. The foul call on Sanchez against Sanchez was ludicrous. A challenge that should have been lauded as a brilliant play by the talented Colombian ended up costing Spurs a goal. There also can be no debate about whether or not Mustafi was offside. He clearly was. It was an unfortunate break that went against Tottenham.

Next: Tottenham won't risk Harry Kane against Dortmund

The point here is that maybe Spurs’ performance on the afternoon wasn’t quite as bad as it seemed. Pochettino’s squad certainly didn’t play perfect, passionate football, but they deserved more of a chance to stay in the match than they received. Perhaps Tottenham will be luckier when the North London Derby is played at Wembley.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur