TERRACE TALK: Arsenal - Not a disaster but this was an opportunity missed
The two midfielders are both capable of getting goals, and have a creative streak that could provide for others.
Unfortunately for the Arsenal manager, and the fans, both players used the opportunity to showcase the elements of their game that frustrate so many.
Both were guilty of wayward shooting and, after one ludicrous effort from Oxlade-Chamberlain when he should have crossed, you could almost see Alexis Sanchez holding himself back.
If the Chilean had gone over and delivered a boot up his team-mate’s backside, it would have generated the loudest cheer of the day.
Wenger needed his substitutes to have an impact because the Gunners struggled to find anything approaching their best form against Tottenham.
Perhaps it was the occasion, perhaps the early kick off, or perhaps the fact that Arsenal and November go together like toothpaste and orange juice, but this was not the fluid attacking performance many were hoping for.
In contrast to the way they dominated Chelsea at home in September, there was a lethargy about Arsenal all day. It was especially evident in the first half, when they were second to almost everything.
At home, against a slightly weakened Spurs and with a chance to go top of the table, it was odd to see them so listless.
Finishing the first half with a flurry should have set them up for a more intense second period, but they never found the spark. Defensively, they appeared nervous.
Shkodran Mustafi struggled, his confidence dented by a dummy and run by Son Heung-min that left him exposed.
His central defensive partner Laurent Koscielny was guilty of a silly challenge to concede the penalty from which Spurs equalised, and that happened minutes after he’d been bailed out by Hector Bellerin.
The French international has been one of the most consistent performers this season, but for a player of his experience it was shoddy.
As in many recent games, Arsenal provided the opposition with far too many opportunities.
They have ridden their luck to an extent, and showed character in midweek to come back from 2-0 against Ludogorets, but it should be a growing concern for Wenger and his coaching staff.
With Harry Kane lumbering about on his return from injury, it’s not as if Spurs were at their most potent, yet they still had chances to score.
The width of a post prevented a Christian Eriksen free kick from drifting in late in the game and, given their own paucity of creativity, it would likely have been a killer blow for Arsenal.
Defensive weaknesses can be offset by attacking efficiency but that was in short supply.
What has energised Arsenal this season is the movement of their front four. It’s good enough to cope when one, maybe even two, have an off-day, but not all of them.
Alexis was poor; Walcott had one of those games – making just 8 passes before his removal, although he did crack a great shot off the post; Iwobi had some nice moments in the second half but the way he fluffed a first half chance to score showed his inability to rise above the occasion; while Ozil tried but looked a yard off the pace all day.
The time off he’s going to get in the international break will be important to get some freshness back into his legs.
A clearly frustrated Arsene Wenger described his team as ‘too nervous’, and questions will be asked about their mentality. A good chance to beat the old rival and go top of the table passed them by.
Recent results have been good but it’s also fair to say that the fixtures have been relatively kind.
The games in November will give us a much clearer picture of this Arsenal side’s credentials, and while a draw in a derby is never truly a bad result, it does feel like an opportunity lost.
And yet the unbeaten run continues, Arsenal still haven’t lost since the opening day of the season, and Wenger will be keen to try and accentuate the positives of that.
Primarily because he won’t find too many of them in yesterday’s performance.
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