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José Mourinho targets Europa League after Tottenham edge past Arsenal
- Spurs on course to finish above rivals for fourth year in row
- Manager says ‘it would not be bad’ to win third Europa League
José Mourinho said that he wanted to secure Europa League qualification for Tottenham from the final games of the season after watching his team edge to a come-from-behind derby win over Arsenal.
The manager knows that Spurs are set fair to finish above their rivals for a fourth season in a row after a 2-1 home victory on Sunday thanks to Toby Alderweireld’s late winner. Previously, Arsenal had finished above Spurs for 21 years in succession. But what he is after is European football and, if it is not to be the Champions League, he would be happy to enter the Europa League.
Related: Toby Alderweireld punishes Arsenal errors to give Spurs derby glory
Continue reading...José Mourinho wins but derby leaves fog of confusion over north London | Jonathan Wilson
Key questions about both sides’ forwards went unanswered in a game where Spurs and Arsenal showed their flaws
After all the optimistic talk, the north-London derby was a sobering reminder for Arsenal of just how much still needs to be done, just how pervasive are the problems Mikel Arteta inherited. And while the victory lifted Tottenham above Arsenal, and for all this in some respects resembled a classic José Mourinho mugging, it was a result that did little to clear the doubts about the manager and his approach.
Spurs won because their defence were less chaotic than Arsenal’s but the picture, really, was of two attacks seeking an identity. At least it was possible to discern a Tottenham attack, which wasn’t the case against Everton or Bournemouth.
Related: Toby Alderweireld punishes Arsenal errors to give Spurs derby glory
Related: Why Tottenham are stagnating under José Mourinho, who has yet to evolve | Jonathan Wilson
Continue reading...Arteta: The game was ours | Jose targets Europa
Morgan: Spurs' men's and women's sides need more cohesion
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Toby Alderweireld scored a late winner as a tactically astute Spurs came from behind to beat Arsenal in Jose Mourinho’s first North London derby
6.41pm BST
Related: Toby Alderweireld punishes Arsenal errors to give Spurs derby glory
6.41pm BST
Here’s Jose Mourinho
“I think the game was close. It was more tactical than anything. Mikel has found a way for them to play, and they have improved, so we felt that we should adapt slightly to them. I think we did it very well. We controlled Tierney and Bellerin, and even in the first period of the second half when they had more of the ball, we were quite comfortable in that situation. And then we found our chances.
6.30pm BST
Related: Bournemouth v Leicester: Premier League – live!
6.25pm BST
That’s a big win for Spurs and Mourinho, and they fully deserved it. They did a number on Arsenal in the second half, luring them in and picking them off on the counter-attack. Arsenal wil be really frustrated because they looked superior for large parts of the game. But that was a crafty performance from Spurs - not quite a Mourinho masterclass™ of old, but a tactical triumph nonetheless.
6.23pm BST
Peep peep! Spurs have come from behind to win Jose Mourinho’s first North London derby - and move above Arsenal in the table.
6.22pm BST
90+3 min A timewasting substitution. Erik Lamela on, the outstanding Son off.
6.21pm BST
90+2 min There’s another save from Martinez, albeit a comfortable one from Kane’s optimistic shot.
6.20pm BST
90+2 min This would be a deserved win for Spurs. For all Arsenal’s possession and promise, Emi Martinez has had a lot more to do than Hugo Lloris.
6.19pm BST
90+1 min Four minutes of added time.
6.18pm BST
90 min Saka is booked for throwing the ball away. Arsenal look beaten.
6.16pm BST
88 min “Arteta’s remedial hypnosis of Mustafi wore off some time in the second half and he’s back in the present,” says Charles Antaki. “Worse - 2018.”
6.16pm BST
87 min Son leads a Spurs counter-attack, running 60 yards before his shot is blocked by David Luiz.
6.15pm BST
86 min Bergwijn is booked for a cynical foul on Willock.
6.14pm BST
86 min Aurier wins a corner off Saka. Spurs have been much the better team since the drinks break.
6.13pm BST
84 min A triple change for Arsenal: Cedric, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock replace Tierney, Kolasinac and Bellerin.
6.12pm BST
84 min Oliver Skipp replaces Lo Celso in the Spurs midfield.
6.12pm BST
83 min Martinez makes yet another fine save to deny Kane, plunging to his left to block a sidefooted shot. The loose ball eventually falls to Lo Celso, whose sizzling shot just clears the bar.
6.11pm BST
83 min Spurs make a change, with Steven Bergwijn replacing the excellent Lucas Moura.
6.11pm BST
82 min Son curled the corner towards the near post, where Alderweireld got above Tierney and flicked a good header past Martinez. That’s a huge goal for Spurs and Jose Mourinho.
6.10pm BST
Tottenham score from the corner!
6.10pm BST
81 min: Another good save from Martinez! Lucas Moura, who has had a fine game, slid a lovely pass infield towards Kane, who ran behind Mustafi and clipped a first-time shot towards goal. Martinez was quickly off his line to block.
6.08pm BST
79 min Aubameyang’s curling half-volley from 15 yards is tipped round by the diving Lloris. That was a lovely first-time effort after Bellerin’s blocked shot was deflected across the area, and a decent save as well.
6.04pm BST
76 min Winks, who should have been booked earlier, is actually booked for pulling back Lacazette.
6.03pm BST
74 min Spurs are starting to look more dangerous on the counter-attack. Lucas Moura breaks into space down the left and crosses just in front of Son.
6.02pm BST
73 min Matt Dony wins the email of the match award.
“...and, as David Luiz walks away from the Emirates, having spent the last 90 minutes convincing everyone that he was a small player in the seedy underworld of Defending, he slowly loses his limp, thus subtly revealing himself to be the mastermind behind ALL appalling defending all along. Leaving everyone else to deal with the repercussions, he gets away safely. And signs yet another lucrative contract.”
6.00pm BST
70 min: Martinez saves from Son! A long clearance was collected by Kane on the left wing. He skinned Mustafi, who committed himself too early, moved into the area and poked the ball towards the late-arriving Son. It looked a certain goal, with Son only eight yards out, but Martinez threw himself at the ball and smothered Son’s shot. Actually I’m not even sure it was a shot; I think Son tried to dummy Martinez and run the ball into the net. Either way, it was superb goalkeeping.
5.58pm BST
70 min An Arsenal substitution. Bukayo Saka comes on to replace Nicolas Pepe.
5.56pm BST
68 min Time for the drinks break. The second half has been a bit of a non-event.
5.53pm BST
65 min Arsenal continue to dominate, though Spurs aren’t exactly on the ropes. The pace of the game is fairly slow, presumably because of the heat.
5.49pm BST
61 min Pepe is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura.
5.49pm BST
60 min “Spoilers,” says Martin McKeefry. “Arsenal defensive mayhem imminent. Also Bruce Willis is a ghost.”
5.48pm BST
59 min: Aubameyang hits the post! That was so close. There was a bit of a scramble 25 yards from goal before Lacazette picked up the loose ball and angled a nice pass to Aubameyang. He took it in his stride and smacked a left-footed shot that beat Lloris and thumped off the near post. I think the ball took a slight touch off Aubameyang’s standing foot before he shot, without which it would have gone on target.
5.45pm BST
57 min Aurier’s cross-shot is blocked by Kolasinac.
5.44pm BST
55 min Mustafi’s speculative, looping overhead kick from the edge of the area is comfortably saved by the backpedalling Lloris. Arsenal have been well on top since half-time.
5.42pm BST
54 min Xhaka plays a terrific angled pass into the area to find Bellerin, whose slightly heavy first touch allows Lucas Moura to get back and put the ball behind for a corner.
5.41pm BST
52 min When Ceballos’s free-kick is half cleared, Kolasinac hits a snapshot wide under pressure from Winks.
5.40pm BST
51 min Winks is somehow not booked for deliberately pulling back Ceballos.
5.38pm BST
50 min Lucas Moura runs at Mustafi in the area, shifts the ball onto his left foot that is excellently blocked by Mustafi.
5.36pm BST
49 min Plenty of Arsenal possession at the start of the second half.
5.34pm BST
46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.
5.34pm BST
“Please can you not tell us what’s happening in the blimmin’ cricket when we’re looking at a football blog????!” says Jack. “I was looking forward to watching the cricket highlights on the BBC for the first time in about a gazillion years later, and now you’ve just gone and basically ruined it! PS. This email is significantly more restrained than it ought to be.”
It’s her head in the box btw.
5.19pm BST
Half-time reading
Related: Why Tottenham are stagnating under José Mourinho, who has yet to evolve | Jonathan Wilson
5.18pm BST
Peep peep! The scoreline is about right after an enjoyable if imperfect half of football. Alexandre Lacazette and Son scored well-taken goals - Lacazette’s was a screamer - although both stemmed from defensive mistakes. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.
Meantime, West Indies are closing in on an immense victory at the Ageas Bowl.
Related: England v West Indies: first Test, day five – live!
5.17pm BST
45+2 min Davies is booked for a foul on Pepe.
5.15pm BST
45 min Lacazette is booked for fouling Lo Celso.
5.14pm BST
44 min Spurs win a corner on the left. Son curls it in and Mustafi heads clear.
5.12pm BST
42 min Pepe’s low shot from 16 yards is comfortably held by Lloris.
5.10pm BST
40 min Aubameyang’s excellent, wobbling free-kick flashes just wide of the far post. Lloris’s desperate dive across goal betrayed how close it was.
5.09pm BST
39 min Davies fouls Pepe 25 yards from goal slightly to the left of centre.
5.07pm BST
37 min A quiet spell in the game.
5.04pm BST
34 min Aurier is booked for pulling back Lacazette.
5.02pm BST
32 min Pepe runs at the defence and shapes a left-footed curler that drifts a few yards wide of the far post. Lloris had it covered.
5.02pm BST
31 min: Davies hits the bar! That was a spectacular attempt. He was miles out, at least 30 yards and a fair way to the left of centre, but he hit a vicious shot that clattered off the crossbar. Replays confirm that Martinez got a slight touch on the shot as he leapt to his right. That is a seriously good save.
5.01pm BST
30 min Corner to Spurs on the right. Lo Celso swings it in and Mustafi heads away.
4.59pm BST
28 min “Everyone, as always, should be watching Ben Stokes instead,” says Mac Millings.
I’d much prefer to be doing this tbf.
Related: England v West Indies: first Test, day five – live!
4.58pm BST
27 min “And somewhere in the Great TV Panel in the Sky, Jack Charlton is effin’ and blindin’ about why defenders today have to faff about at the back, when there are vast empty stands to clear ball into,” says Justin Kavanagh. “The daft buggers!”
It’s an immutable truth that an attacker cannot score from row Z. And they can’t score if the ball’s in row Z either.
4.55pm BST
24 min Time for a drinks break.
4.52pm BST
21 min Aurier’s cross isn’t cleared properly by Mustafi and almost falls for Sissoko on the six-yard line. It’s a good game, this.
4.51pm BST
21 min In other news, Lo Celso was apparently booked for that incident with Dani Ceballos just before Lacazette’s goal.
4.51pm BST
Kolasinac played a hideous pass towards David Luiz, who was wrongfooted and beaten to the ball by Son. He moved away from David Luiz, drew Martinez and chipped the ball gently over him with his left foot. It was a cool finish from Son, and a desperate mistake by Kolasinac.
4.49pm BST
Whatever Aurier can do, Sead Kolasinac can do better.
4.48pm BST
That was a savage strike from Lacazette. It came from a slight mistake by Serge Aurier, who overran the ball and then lost a 50/50 with Xhaka. The ball ran to Lacazette, 25 yards from goal, and he lashed a rising drive past the diving Lloris.
4.47pm BST
Pick that out.
4.46pm BST
15 min There’s a VAR check against Lo Celso after an off-the-ball incident with Dani Ceballos. There was nothing much in it. Lo Celso puts his arm on Ceballos’s chest to block him, and Ceballos went down as if maimed.
4.44pm BST
13 min: Chance for Arsenal! Bellerin scoots down the right, holds off Winks and crosses low towards Aubameyang near the penalty spot. He makes a mess of a relatively straightforward volley and the ball runs onto Tierney, who rifles it well wide of the far post.
4.41pm BST
10 min: Good save from Martinez! Lucas Moura wandered infield from the left and flipped a superb pass around David Luiz to put Kane through on goal. He tried to cushion a lob over Martinez, who was close enough to stretch and make an excellent block. That was very good goalkeeping, not just the save but also the anticipation.
4.39pm BST
9 min The corner is headed miles over by Mustafi at the near post.
4.38pm BST
8 min At the other end, Tierney’s cross is headed behind by Alderweireld, who did very well to get in front of Lacazette at the near post.
4.37pm BST
7 min Sissoko’s cross is well claimed by the stretching Martinez. He’s kept goal with impressive authority since replacing the injured Bernd Leno.
4.36pm BST
6 min It’s been a decent start from Spurs, who have had most of the ball and look reasonably sharp.
4.34pm BST
3 min Arsenal have made a sloppy start at the back. Martinez plays a loose pass towards David Luiz that is nicked by Son. His cross is headed away.
4.33pm BST
2 min Spurs are playing 4-4-2. Son and Kane are up front with Lucas Moura is on the left wing and Sissoko slightly tucked in on the other side.
4.31pm BST
17 secs Lucas Moura has an early pop from 25 yards, and Martinez flies to his left to make a camera-friendly save. It was comfortable enough.
4.30pm BST
1 min Peep peep! Harry Winks kicks off the first North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
4.26pm BST
The players emerge on a lovely, sunny afternoon in north London - perfect cricket weather.
4.19pm BST
Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace was the final score at Villa Park, which gives Villa a soupçon of hope that they might avoid relegation.
Related: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace: Premier League – live!
4.13pm BST
“Among the many things to like about Arteta’s reign so far is the apparently miraculous redemption of Shkodran Mustafi,” says Charles Antaki. “Perhaps Arteta has used some kind of mesmerism to take him back to 2014 and winning the World Cup, something that Mustafi himself seemed to have completely forgotten, along with the skills that went with it.”
3.43pm BST
There’s a bit of a surprise in the Arsenal team, with Bukayo Saka only on the bench. That aside, the two teams are pretty much as expected.
Tottenham (4-4-2) Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Sissoko, Winks, Lo Celso, Lucas Moura; Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Tanganga, Lamela, Sessegnon, Ndombele, Fernandes, Skipp, Bergwijn.
3.38pm BST
Hello. Arsenal and Spurs are only a point apart in the Premier League table, but the mood around the clubs could barely be more different. Arsenal are high on Bukayo Saka and four wins and a draw in the last five games; Spurs, whether they deserve it or not, have regained their old status as a renewable source of banter.
Much of the negativity around the club comes from the media, which loves a Jose Mourinho bad-news story, and Spurs have been desperately unlucky with VAR in the last few weeks. But Mourinho doesn’t help himself at times, and the contrast with the demeanour, style of play and – at this stage - results of Mauricio Pochettino does not flatter him. On match days, Mourinho displays the kind of joie de vivre and enthusiasm last seen when Livia Soprano was given a new CD player.
3.26pm BST
Rob will be here shortly. While you wait, have a read of Jonathan Wilson on Spurs and what is going wrong for Mourinho.
Related: Why Tottenham are stagnating under José Mourinho, who has yet to evolve | Jonathan Wilson
Related: Giovani Lo Celso ready to kick on after topsy-turvy beginning at Tottenham
Continue reading...Toby Alderweireld punishes Arsenal errors to give Spurs derby glory
José Mourinho had said he could not wait for the season to finish and, given the gloomy mood that shadowed Tottenham into this derby and the state of the Premier League table, it was easy to see why. Yet there was a dose of unexpected cheer at the expense of their nearest and dearest rivals when Spurs found a way to turn the tide of a second half that was slipping away from them.
The decisive blow was struck late on by Toby Alderweireld, who rose to flick Son Heung-min’s corner into the roof of the net. Defensively, Arsenal broke down – why was Kieran Tierney marking Alderweireld? – and it meant Spurs had done enough. It was not a vintage performance from them and there remain doubts over the cohesion of their attacking football. But this was a day when Mourinho needed a result and he got one.
Related: Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Related: Mahmoud Trezeguet downs Crystal Palace to keep Aston Villa's hopes alive
Continue reading...Jose masterclass guides Spurs to derby win
Tottenham transfer rumours
Giovani Lo Celso ready to kick on after topsy-turvy beginning at Tottenham
Following an injury-hit start to life at Spurs, the Argentinian has established himself at the heart of José Mourinho’s midfield
For Giovani Lo Celso, it is difficult to imagine what could possibly have made the experience sweeter. But there has been something. The Tottenham midfielder made his Argentina debut against Russia at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in November 2017 and he now has 21 caps. The something was the person playing with him and in and around him on many subsequent occasions. It was the symbol of his hometown. Lo Celso is able to call Rosario’s own Lionel Messi a teammate.
“It was a unique experience; a beautiful feeling,” Lo Celso says. “I’d dreamed of playing for the national team since I was a boy and to have been alongside Messi in training and to have played with him was a wonderful thing. He’s admired across the globe and we know he was born in Rosario. That’s wonderful for kids from there who idolise him. We know the class of player he is and that he’s from Rosario makes it even better.”
Related: José Mourinho accepts Tottenham fans' dissent but promises better next term
Related: José Mourinho hits out over four-game ban for Eric Dier entering stands
Continue reading...Why Tottenham are stagnating under José Mourinho, who has yet to evolve | Jonathan Wilson
It’s hard not to feel we’ve have seen this all before and know how it plays out. The sense is the endgame has begun
As they prepare for the north London derby on Sunday, who would you rather be: Arsenal or Tottenham? For the past four years, it wasn’t a question that required much consideration. Even in 2015-16, when Arsenal last finished above Spurs, it felt freakish. The trajectories of the two clubs seemed clear: Spurs were rising, replete with gifted young players and blessed with a charismatic manager whose ideas were notably modern, while Arsenal were sinking in the dotage of a managerial great whose best years were behind him but whose departure would inevitably bring turbulence.
Arsène Wenger’s retirement in 2018 did lead to chaos – or perhaps more accurately, exposed the chaos that was already there. With Ivan Gazidis and Sven Mislintat leaving, only Raul Sanllehi remains of the triumvirate who were supposed to replace him. Major concerns remain about recruitment and particularly the influence of the agent Kia Joorabchian.
Related: Calm Mason Greenwood can avoid Exciting Teenage Talent implosion | Barney Ronay
Continue reading...Can Kane rekindle form against old foes?
Merse: Mourinho will make Spurs winners
Mourinho: I want to see my Tottenham
José Mourinho accepts Tottenham fans' dissent but promises better next term
- Manager and players share supporters’ discontent
- ‘Next season is going to be different,’ says Mourinho
José Mourinho is aware of Tottenham fans’ discontent, which makes him and the players unhappy, but has promised to provide them with a better season next time out.
Spurs have gone from beaten Champions League finalists last June to ninth in the Premier League and with a return to Europe’s elite competition next season looking all but impossible.
Related: Bournemouth's Wilson and King see efforts ruled out to reprieve Tottenham
Continue reading...LISTEN: Premier League preview podcast
Jose: Spurs need to rediscover cutting edge
Charlie's Premier League predictions
Live on Sky: Tottenham vs Arsenal
Tory conference finally cancelled, but the football season rolls on | John Crace
Will anyone attend the livestreamed fringe events without free sandwiches as inducements?
There are times I feel I’m losing my touch as a hypochondriac. There were long periods during my 40s and 50s when I would only have to exhibit the mildest of symptoms and I would be on the phone to the doctor – with Google almost any symptom can be potentially fatal. I’ve lost track of the number of blood tests and more invasive procedures I’ve had in order to find out I’m not about to die.
Related: Rishi Sunak the chancellor who can be trusted to do as he is told | John Crace
Continue reading...Arteta: Jose is still world class
