Tottenham Hotspur fell to a particularly disappointing 2-0 defeat within the north London derby on Sunday night, a outcome that leaves Antonio Conte‘s facet 5 factors adrift of fourth place – having performed a sport extra – whereas it additionally sees Arsenal transfer eight factors clear on the high of the Premier League desk.
As is now one thing of an undesirable trademark for the Lilywhites, Spurs began the sport slowly, with a calamitous Hugo Lloris personal purpose gifting the Gunners the lead on the 14-minute mark, earlier than a long-range strike from Martin Odegaard 9 minutes earlier than the break doubled the guests’ benefit.
After the interval, Tottenham briefly appeared as if they may haul themselves again into the fixture, with Aaron Ramsdale producing three high-quality saves to maintain out Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon, though, as the sport wore on, Arsenal as soon as once more took management, seeing out the 2-0 win with relative ease.
Nevertheless, whereas the outcome will most definitely be a bitter tablet for Conte to swallow, the efficiency of Pape Matar Sarr on his first Premier League begin could have undoubtedly been a vivid spark for the 53-year-old – because the midfielder nicely and really repaid the Italian supervisor’s “big show of faith” on Sunday.
Certainly, over his 76 minutes on the pitch, the 20-year-old impressed in possession of the ball, having fun with 61 touches – the fifth-most of any Spurs participant to characteristic within the match – finishing 41 of his 46 tried passes – at successful fee of 89% – and discovering his man with one key move – with Matt Kim claiming that Sarr’s ahead passes and development had been “amazing” on the day.
The £14.5m signing additionally caught the attention in additional workmanlike metrics, making three tackles, three interceptions and one clearance, in addition to being profitable in six duels and breaking apart Arsenal’s play by committing two fouls.
Whereas the Senegal worldwide’s Sofascore statistical ranking of 6.5 noticed him fall a way wanting the 8.0 acquired by Kane – the best acquired by any Tottenham participant – Sarr was awarded a way more beneficial six in Alasdair Gold’s personal participant scores for soccer.london.
The journalist wrote: “Making his full Premier League debut in a north London derby and he confirmed he doesn’t look misplaced. It was a tricky task with Hojbjerg towards Arsenal’s midfield three however he labored onerous and earned a standing ovation from quite a few the followers when he went off.”
Whereas such a lacklustre defeat towards their most bitter of rivals is a outcome that no Spurs supporter will likely be having fun with in the present day, there must be some confidence taken from the spectacular exhibiting by Sarr, because the teen was very a lot Tottenham’s brightest spark on an in any other case bleak day.
