Almunia dives despairingly after Bentley's effort finds the net
After another pulsating chapter in the Arsenal v Spurs rivalry (4-4 for anyone who didn’t see it), the home side will be bitterly disappointed and they should be. Manager Arsene Wenger ought to shoulder the majority of the blame following a series of baffling decisions contributed to his team’s decline.
On the face of it the changes he made didn’t look particularly bad ones (Eboue for Walcott, Diaby for Van Persie, and Song for Nasri). This though is the root of the problem as at 4-2 Wenger had the notion that the game was wrapped up when it quite clearly wasn’t being a derby game. Leaving on Walcott against the susceptible Matheiu Assou-Ekotto at left back, who looked exposed all game, would have caused their rivals to sit back. The case being the same if he had left Van Persie on as well who had played a part in all four of Arsenal’s goals and was man-of-the-match by a long way (the only reason I haven’t included the Nasri substitution is due to it taking place in the last two minutes).
Sitting back they first conceded a fine effort to Jermaine Jenas who was given the space to shoot, then to Aaron Lennon who tapped in after Luka Modric was also given space to shoot by an Arsenal defence which was now at panic stations.
This takes nothing away from the game though which was again a great advert for a league that is usually completely predictable at the top (including Arsenal), the teams making up the remainder of the league having to entertain the masses.
You can just imagine Redknapp Jnr. Jumping up and down in the studio as Lennon slotted home from close range as his old man cut his teeth at the highest level.
