Tottenham has still failed to test Lukasz Fabianski in Arsenal's net, but with Marouane Chamakh's athletic finish in the 27th minute, Spurs find themselves down two, having yet to come into the match.
Arsenal Vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Marouane Chamakh’s Outstretched Effort Puts Gunners Up Two
Arsenal's second goal started as a small break, with Andrei Arshavin receiving the ball to the left of the area, Spurs defense having been turned. As he was closed down by Alan Hutton, the Russian attacker played a left-footed ball to the edge of the six. Younes Kaboul seemed to be in good position to play the ball, but Chamakh stretched-out for the ball, got his right leg in from of Kaboul, and poked the ball into Gomes's net.
Like many goals are, Arsenal’s second was a metaphor for how this match has gone. Whereas the first goal was the result of terrible defending, Chamakh’s was a result of Spurs just not doing enough. Nobody did enough to stop the ball from going wide to Arshavin. Hutton can hardly be faulted for not getting out to play Arshavin’s first touch, but he didn’t get there. Kaboul seemed in the right place to defend Chamakh, but he misjudged the Arsenal striker’s capabilities.
That’s how most of this match has been. It’s not that Tottenham has been incapable. It’s more that they just haven’t been able to match Arsenal. As a result, this has been one of the more convincing halves of the Gunners’ season.
Now seven minutes before halftime, Arsenal remains up 2-0.
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