As soon as I exited Arsenal station, you could taste Derby Day literally, the Hot Dog's were really nice! I entered the Emirates, music booming, 45 minutes till kick-off and soaking up the build up to what was to be one of the most looked forward to, important North London Derbies of recent memory. Spurs had smashed their transfer record 3 times going into the game with signings of Paulinho, Soldado and Lamela. Arsenal, meanwhile, hadn't spent a penny with the two free transfers of Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini, so criticism was a plenty for Arsene Wenger, i'll admit from me. I can safely say, all I asked for was a marquee signing, just one at least and i'll put my trust back in Arsene, we'll see if he has met these demands.
So match time 4pm, atmosphere is buzzing and the red army is out in full force to cheer on the Gunners against their noisy neighbours. Arsenal made 2 changes to the starting side that beat Fenerbache the previous Tuesday, an injury to Lukas Podolski hurt the squad depth of Arsenal further, so Santi Cazorla shifted out to the left wing with Jack Wilshere slotting back into the middle of midfield alongisde Tomas Rosicky and the inform Aaron Ramsey. Laurent Koscielny returned from his suspension after a dismal Emirates Stadium opener for him, he returned alongside captain Per Mertersacker, coming in for Bacary Sagna who reverted to the bench with a cold as Carl Jenkinson made his first North London Derby start. The opponents Spurs had an unchanged back 5 with no goals conceded in all competitions so far this season. Etienne Capoue, making his derby debut was the only change as he came in for Gylfi Sigudarsson, slotting in alongside Moussa Dembele and Paulinho. New men Soldado and Chadli were other derby debutantes Soldado had scored 4 in 4 for Spurs so far this season, despite 2 of them being spot kicks. Necer Chadli from FC Twente started his 3rd game in a row in the league and looked impressive, strong, powerful and quick, is he the answer too the near departed Gareth Bale?
Away we go! It was a passive start, but dominated by Arsenal, passing the ball beautifully, testing this Spurs back line and looking like a good outfit. They were the first to have a effort at goal, with Santi Cazorla putting Hugo Lloris at full stretch with a near wonderful free kick, thank goodness Walcott has stopped taking them! But, Walcott had his moment, beautifully sent away by Cazorla, he was clean through on goal, only for Hugo Lloris to come out and perform an inch perfect slide tackle to deny Theo surely a chance for the opener. Spurs though were getting into the game and started having long spells of possession with a lot of ventures forward, mainly through corners, although nothing troublesome for Szczesny. Then the moment which made my summer holidays, Arsenal broke away quickly down the left, Ramsey stroked it cross field to Rosicky, who turned and found Walcott in behind down the right, fed the near post cross in where Giroud connected! GOLAZO! Outside of the foot finish, beating Lloris at the near as Giroud converted his 4th goal in 5 Arsenal games, 3 in 3 in the league to make the score, "1-0 TO THE ARSENAL"!
Arsenal were forced to a change as Jack Wilshere was substituted due to illness for the return of Mathieu Flamini to the North London Derby stage, he didn't waste time introducing himself, clattering into a tackle to Paulinho, welcome back Monsieur Flamini. The second half was a lot more wide open, but again Arsenal dominated the chance creation, Giroud put Lloris' reflexes to the test as he was at his very best to deny a deflected effort by the Frenchman. Although Woijiech Szczesny was eqaul to Lloris' heroics, Arsenal failed to clear a Spurs' free kick as sub Jermain Defoe fired goal-bound, deflecting off Laurent Koscielny, meaning Szczesny had to readjust to superbly tip away the effort, with Giroud blocking another goal-bound effort from Roberto Soldado. Etienne Capoue unfortunately was stretchered off, he impressed me that day, good solid display, but a twisted ankle in an encounter with Cazorla ended his derby, enter £30 million man Erik Lamela! But, it was Arsenal who had the last real chance of the game, Giroud who tirelessly worked the whole game skinned Dawson and Rose, laid off Walcott who was once again foiled by Lloris as Naxo Monreal couldn't find the telling first touch for the second goal. Nervous times were ahead as the last 10 minutes was all Spurs, back's against wall time for Arsenal, thankfully due to a outstanding team performance! We moved above Manchester United and Spurs into 4th and with 4 wins in 5, back on track!
Transfer Deadline Day
So the highlights of this amazing day were:
- Liverpool were at the triple, swooping in for Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Illori and loaning Chelsea's Victor Moses.
- Manchester City completed the signing of Martin Demichelis from Athletico Madrid
- Everton were busy on Deadline Day, buying and selling, swooping for Wigan's James McCarthy and loaning in Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry.
- West Brom also bought swiftly signing Stephane Sessegnon for £6m
- Manchester United failed in there attempts for Ander Herrera but settled for Everton's Marouane Fellaini, for the cost of £27.5m, well could of got him for £23.5 a month earlier....
- And, Arsenal mad the most expensive signing, smashing there transfer record, with the acquisition of Mesut Ozil for £42.4m, the second highest transfer in British history
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