Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has told his team to hold their heads high following the 5-2 defeat against Arsenal yesterday, and insists that they can be proud of their fighting performance.
Spurs had taken the lead in the opening 10 minutes through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emmanuel-Adebayor-c12526 and looked the better of both teams.
However, that all changed when the Togolese striker was sent off following a late and studs-up challenge on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Santi-Cazorla-c32505. The striker was given his marching orders by the referee, and the incident proved to be the turning point of the game.
Arsenal scored the equalizer through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lukas-Podolski-c22896 then followed with a deflected shot and Olivier Giroud rounded off the scoring in the first half.
The game looked like it was over even before it started. Arsenal had been ruthless in attack, and Tottenham struggled to deal with their pace, movement and incisive passing.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 with width and directness.
The second half saw Arsenal get a fourth after Lukas Podolski put in a terrific and weighted cross across goal towards Santi Cazorla, who deservedly got his name on the score sheet.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gareth-Bale-c14422 got Spurs’ 2nd goal, but it didn’t amount for much as Arsenal shortly scored a 5th when Theo Walcott sent the Emirates into a state of frenzy and uproar. It was déjà-vu. The final scoreboard read 5-2, and was just the result
Arsenal needed.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas tasted defeat against Arsenal for the second time in his managerial career, the first thrashing coming last season when he was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 manager. Speaking to reporters, the manager said:
"I think the sending-off determined the game, but the referee made the right decision. Players want to dispute the ball, there was no intention to do any harm.”
"I'm very, very proud of the team. The feeling of the result is indifferent for us when we played so well and we took the risk in the second half to be so bold and play with three at the back. Men against men.”
"Yes, we suffered but there were chances that, had we converted and brought the score to only a one-goal difference, I think it could've gone our way."
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