Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Four talking points for the Gunners - Xhaka, David Luiz, Lacazette and Guendouzi

Individual errors cost Arsenal yet again

Since Unai Emery was appointed as head coach of Arsenal last summer, no other Premier League club has recorded more errors leading to goals.

It is a statistic that sums up the Spaniard’s time in charge of the Gunners, with individual mistakes costing his side dearly.

Against Tottenham, Bernd Leno spilled Erik Lamela’s shot to allow Eriksen to score the opener and Spurs’ second came courtesy of a crazy tackle by Granit Xhaka in the box.

Quite simply, Arsenal cannot expect to progress under Emery if those individual mistakes continue to happen.

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They undermine all the attacking work and intent Arsenal have and it continually puts them on the back foot in games they are dominating.

Against Spurs on Sunday, Arsenal’s front-three were able to get them out of trouble but they cannot keep relying on them to always do so.

David Luiz still doesn’t look at home in North London

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When he was signed on transfer deadline day from Chelsea it was hoped Luiz could be the man to solve Arsenal’s defensive problems.

The Brazilian has a wealth of experience from his stints at Stamford Bridge and Paris Saint-Germain, but during his time there he showed he was error prone. On his Arsenal debut against Burnley, Luiz looked assured but since then displays against Liverpool and Tottenham reiterate how the jury is still very much out.

The 32-year-old struggled positionally against Spurs and for the visitors’ first goal he was nowhere to be seen after Kane won a flick-on to set Lamela on his way. Undoubtedly Luiz needs to be given time to state his case, but there will concern after his opening performances - particularly as they were against Liverpool and Tottenham.

If the Gunners are to correct and improve their defensive record then Luiz needs to step up - and fast.

Lacazette makes point after missing out against Liverpool

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It came as a surprise last week at Liverpool when Lacazette was left out of the starting XI. Since the Frenchman joined Arsenal he has been in lethal form, but for the trip to Anfield Emery opted to go for a front-two of Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

However, for the visit of Tottenham, Lacazette returned to the first team and he demonstrated why Emery was justified in his decision to recall him. The striker took his goal in the first-half brilliantly, flicking the ball over Jan Vertonghen’s foot before hammering it past Hugo Lloris.

It was a goal that sums up exactly what Lacazette brings to Arsenal’s new look front-three. Aubameyang and Pepe may provide them with blistering pace, but when it comes to finishing Lacazette is arguably a cut above.

Guendouzi is starting to become Arsenal’s midfield general

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When Matteo Guendouzi was signed by Arsenal from Lorient last summer few could have predicted the midfielder’s meteoric rise. When he joined it was assumed the 20-year-old would become a squad player for the Gunners, perhaps the type of youngster you’d see turning out in the Carabao Cup or Europa League in the middle of the week.

However, Sunday’s performance underlined how the Frenchman is slowly but surely becoming Arsenal’s midfield general. Granit Xhaka may have been wearing the armband, but it was Guendouzi who ran the show from the middle of the park as Emery’s side sparked a comeback.

The 20-year-old’s energy and drive is something Arsenal have lacked in the middle of the pitch, but he is adding more to his game now too - as shown by his assist for Aubameyang’s equaliser. In just over a year, Guendouzi has gone from a relative unknown to one of the first names on Arsenal’s team sheet.

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