Immature and erratic Spurs must learn the lessons of Mikel Arteta’s big rebuild, writes MATT BARLOW, after Ange Postecoglou saw his side’s Champions League hopes suffer with defeat in the northern derby London

Ange Postecoglou had warned Tottenham of the dangers of hanging one’s nose over the garden fence and becoming obsessed with what the neighbors are building.

“You might both have the worst houses on the street,” he said ahead of the north London derby, but Postecoglou will realize there is much to admire in what Arsenal have designed.

And, as they danced and sang in the sunshine in front of the away pitch, it was hard to escape the feeling that Spurs might even have lessons to learn if they studied the transformation of their closest rivals for four years under Mikel Arteta.

The real danger would actually be to ignore them. Treating a three-goal halftime deficit as bad luck, with marginal decisions going against them in those five minutes – from Micky van de Ven’s goal ruled out for offside to hopeful penalty claims and Bukayo Saka’s goal at the break to make it 2-0 against Arsenal.

It’s true that it was a pivotal passage of the game. Tottenham were in the lead at that point, having sparked a positive response by conceding first again. They thought they had scored an equalizer, only to be deflated, but the contest had fallen into the pattern Arteta might have predicted.

Ange Postecoglou could have a bitter pill to swallow after Tottenham defeat to Arsenal

Some haphazard defending saw the hosts fall to a 3-0 deficit at half-time in the north London derby.

Arsenal were in front, looking dangerous from set pieces and on the counterattack, inviting Spurs to take risks and overcommit while remaining disciplined and compact.

They came with a shield of four central defenders, protected by Thomas Partey and often assisted by Declan Rice, and for most of the match did an admirable job of protecting their goalkeeper.

Tottenham’s most creative forces have been denied the space they crave. Son Heung-min couldn’t sniff it until he had the chance just before halftime, and his team was three points down.

There were early chances, before the match got away from them, but mostly from set pieces. Argentine defender Cristian Romero impressed throughout the match but should have scored when he headed against the frame of the goal at the far post from a free kick with Arsenal only leading 1-0.

It didn’t take long for Spurs, however, to become frustrated and the home crowd changed, an element of anxiety set in and Postecoglou’s side lost focus.

Yes, a bit of luck worked against them too, but there were times in the first half where they looked like Arsenal, back when Arsène Wenger was trying to build a team with a limited budget. with young players.

Frustration set in as they failed to take their chances against their bitter rivals.

There were signs of immaturity. There were signs of impatience. Once behind them, there were traces of despair.

Maybe this was all predictable. Without David Raya’s mistake, they might not have found a way back into the game. Only then did they generate the kind of chaos that has become a hallmark of Postecoglou’s team when at the top.

They were often at their best when clawing back from a home deficit, heading to the South Stand in the second half.

Ideally, they will find a way to do this without falling behind first. And they will find a way to defend set pieces. And produce their exciting style of football without playing directly into the hands of stronger, more mature teams. Those who can defend keep their minds clear in the blur and pounce on them, like Arsenal did.

Postecoglou will know. He’s been in the project for less than a year, but this loss will sting after a four-goal defeat at Newcastle. Then they travel to Chelsea, improving but almost as inconsistent as Tottenham.

Spurs must improve if they are to triumph in their battle against Aston Villa for a Champions League place

In the end there was nothing to do but listen to a song called Munich, perhaps a reference to Arsenal’s demise in Europe against a team made up of two former Spurs players, and turn up the volume to drown out the celebratory songs.

They dropped a point against Aston Villa this weekend and, with it, control of their destiny when it comes to a Champions League place.

Arsenal picked up three more points but may have lost a little confidence that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is where Manchester City could drop points when they visit in just over a fortnight.