MESUT OZIL INSPIRES ARSENE WENGER'S SIDE

  

Against Wenger’s side the Tottenham Hotspur team that swept aside Real Madrid 17 days earlier was twisting in the wind for much of the first half, and then simply unable to force themselves back into the game after the break.

It was a poor performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s team, especially in the first 45 minutes which left them too much to do to get back in the game. It was also a vintage display from the home side.

Arsenal pressed Spurs high in the first half and compressed the space around Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, both starved of possession. They shut down Harry Kane, who still looked short of his usual sharpness.

When the chances came for Arsenal, Skhodran Mustafi and then Alexis Sanchez took them although both first half goals had the hint of offside about them.

Ozil’s free-kick was headed back past Lloris by Mustafi with the Spurs goalkeeper flat-footed this time. At the point the free-kick was taken, the German was also very marginally offside. By this time Arsenal were well on top. They got their second before half-time when Lacazette released Hector Bellerin down the right and he crossed to the near post where Sanchez’s strength and determination saw him finish. Again, Lacazette looked marginally offside.

In the second half Pochettino brought on Harry Winks for the struggling Mousa Dembele and later Heung-min Son and Fernando Llorente but his side continued to play in front of Arsenal rather than get behind them. There was a fine save by Petr Cech from Dier’s header although precious few chances were created by Spurs. If anything Arsenal, and Sanchez in particular, looked the more likely to get another on the breakaway