The manner in which Arsenal self-destructed in the north London derby on Thursday was remarkable, and it certainly would have provided Mikel Arteta with some unwanted home truths about his squad.
Despite the Spaniard preaching about the importance of staying calm and keeping ‘cool heads’, the Gunners were rash from the get-go and their poor composure cost them. A brace from Harry Kane and a second-half strike from Heung-Min Son ensured that Spurs gave themselves a fighting chance of playing Champions League football next season.
Rob Holding, one of the more experienced players in the Arsenal dressing room, exemplified what went wrong in the space of seven minutes. After picking up a booking for dragging Son to the floor, he then elbowed the Korean shortly after in a defining moment in the game.
