Tottenham Are in Good Shape for North London Derby After Win over West Brom
Asked on Friday about his team's busy schedule, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino trotted out a familiar managerial sentiment.
"It is not the best situation, but we need to prepare every game like it's a final, we have ahead now all important games."
He is absolutely right in principle. Behind closed doors, though, Pochettino might admit some "finals" are more important than others.
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Saturday's 3-0 Premier League win over West Bromwich Albion was important for Tottenham, essentially a must-win game in the ongoing multiparticipant battle for top-four places. Next weekend's north London derby—local bragging rights, Champions League implications, pure football history—they do not come much bigger than that.
Spurs were right not to treat this weekend's fixture as a preparation match. But it all but was one—their final competitive chance to warm up for Arsenal, the first of a month's worth of top-rate opponents and local rivals.
At The Hawthorns, we saw the latest evidence of Spurs' encouraging winter form—and with it the general good shape of Pochettino's side. It was also a contest closer than the scoreline suggested, one that highlighted areas that need to be addressed if they are to beat the Gunners.
You're right, Ryan Mason, it did show early on. After a few minutes feeling their way into proceedings, the midfielder and his team-mates sprung into life.
Both goals featured prompt passing and telling movement, and both saw Mousa Dembele make purposeful, assisting runs. The Belgian looked confident off the back of his bright semi-final showing. So, too, did Spurs goalscorers Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane.
Eriksen's free-kick was not as impressive as his one against Sheffield United but was just as well-crafted. Using the midweek game to find his shooting range again, Kane demonstrated it by blasting past Ben Foster after his first touch from Dembele's pass had nullified Andre Wisdom.
West Brom looked shell-shocked but were allowed to compose themselves, as Spurs' dominant ball-use turned from patient to meandering. Pochettino visibly urged his side on from the sidelines; he wanted his men to kill off their opponents within the first 25 minutes.
Instead, Spurs grew complacent and saw their command of the game transfer to the West Midlands club. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was required to make great saves from James Morrison and Claudio Yacob. Craig Dawson headed against the crossbar after he was allowed a free run from a free-kick.
Given Spurs secured the win, Pochettino understandably felt little need to publicly reflect on this down period. But as Tottenham Journal writer Ben Pearce noted, it was no foregone conclusion the north Londoners would seal their win in the second half.
The extra motivation that comes with playing Arsenal might next week negate Tottenham's tendency to ease off. At an inevitably raucous White Hart Lane, they will certainly not need reminding of what is at stake.
Just in case, Pochettino should remind them of the final 20 minutes of the first half at West Brom. If Victor Anichebe, Saido Berahino and Morrison caused them problems, imagine what the likes of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott will do if they are allowed anywhere near the leeway the Baggies were.
As it was, Spurs did do enough to see off West Brom.
Their pressing became more concentrated again and resulted in the dispossession of Dawson and the Eriksen-Kyle Walker combination, which led to Joleon Lescott conceding a penalty (from which Kane netted his second).
Further back, central midfield pair Mason and Paulinho—the latter in particular—became more diligent in their their defensive work (four of the Brazilian's five successful tackles came after the interval, per Squawka). While a rusty Federico Fazio was beaten a couple of times by the speedy Berahino, Lloris and Danny Rose were respectively there to spare the Argentinian's blushes.
A fuller performance will be needed next week at White Hart Lane if Tottenham are to beat Arsenal for the first time in two seasons. Enough was seen against West Brom, and indeed in recent weeks, to show they have it in them to produce one.
Whether they do, that will give us a good indication of whether Spurs are capable of recording genuine success this season. Not just of the faux-final kind.
Press conference quote obtained firsthand.
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