TOTTENHAM DEFEATS ARSENAL 2-0 AS MOURINHO PRAISES ARTETA
Arsenal was away to happy Tottenham fans who were at their home stadium for the first time since first week of March and goals from Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane secured a vital victory for Spurs in the London derby.
Mourinho’s team approached the match with maturity and discipline in the early start of the game and it later paid off with a masterclass goal from Son who curled the ball brilliantly after getting a pass with enough space.
Arsenal readjusted their game dominating possession and constantly seek for space, while Spurs kept to the ‘’traditional Mourinho tactics of man man marking” waiting for opportunities to do a damage with counter attack. Not long, Tottenham got it right with the needed link of passes and Hary Kane scored the second beating Arsenal’s goalkeeper with ease at the nigh to end of the first half.
Both teams played the second half being conscious not to concede goals.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has praised Mikel Arteta on the tactical adherence by the Arsenal players during the match,
“It was a big game in every sense, not just because it was Tottenham-Arsenal,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“I want to give words, congratulations to Mikel Arteta because he gave us a very difficult game. Tactically they were very good, very organised. They gave us problems, problems we were able to resolve. They have a good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach.
“We were reading the game and making the changes to win it because 2-0 was in our hands against a great and difficult opponent but my boys did well today.
”I am very happy with the result and performance, but of course I want the team in the second half to play in a different way. In reality you don’t always do what you want to do because your opponent forces you in a different direction.
“You are winning 2-0, why would you expose your defensive block if you don’t have to? It was a very difficult game.
“I can Imagine tomorrow the headlines will be about them not being in a good position in the table, but I believe with these players and Mikel it will be Arsenal vs Tottenham again”
With the win Mourinho’s team maintains top of the Premier League as they continue their quest for the title having lost only a match in the current season.