How did Arsenal escape with a draw at Tottenham and does Arsene Wenger have a discipline problem?

How did Arsenal manage to avoid defeat?

Francis Coquelin’s red card should have been the key but Spurs, having over-turned Arsenal’s advantage, lost concentration while Arsenal got pumped up and went for it.

Maybe it was Spurs’ inexperience although that youthful vigour helped score two goals quickly. They wanted this. Desperately so. At times in the first-half it was too frenetic. Coaches talk about six seconds of fury to try and win the ball back – Spurs do it for 90 minutes.

Their fitness levels and hunger is incredible. It meant that when Arsenal were reduced to 10 men Spurs were ideally placed to capitalise. But a team that works this hard can also be caught out, and especially with the precise way Arsenal created their deserved equaliser.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates

Do Spurs lack a game-changer?

Harry Kane took his goal brilliantly but do Tottenham have enough game-changers? They work incredibly hard but this was not the best day for Christian Eriksen who they look to to provide that bit of class that Mesut Ozil can provide for Arsenal; to unlock the opposition.

Time and again Eriksen was in good positions but was unable to pick a pass or over-hit a cross. It was not a great day either for Dele Alli who had one of his more disappointing games. But when Mauricio Pochettino turns to the bench he does not have that many different options.

Dele Alli did not have his best game

Why are Arsenal so ill-disciplined?

Or, more specifically, what went through Francis Coquelin’s head before he lunged in on Harry Kane? Not much it seemed. It was an idiotic, inexplicable moment of madness and it almost cost Arsenal the game.

Having been booked, stupidly, for handling the ball on the ground in the first-half Coquelin rightly received a second yellow card, and then a red, for bringing down Kane as the striker cleverly lifted the ball past him early in the second half. This happens too often to Arsenal who suffer red cards in big matches. There can be no complaints over Coquelin’s.

Francis Coquelin was sent off for bringing down Harry Kane

How can Per Mertesacker keep his place?

The big German has become a bit of a lumbering liability. He wears the captain’s armband at Arsenal but shows precious little leadership. Four times in the opening few minutes he lost the ball or was slow to react and the way he was bullied off the ball by Dele Alli for Spurs’ second goal was simply inexcusable.

Alli was in an offside position but was allowed to close down Mertesacker and wanted the ball more than him. Mertesacker, in the absence of Laurent Koscielny, needed to be Arsenal’s main defender but he appeared to shirk that responsibility. Maybe he is simply not physically capable anymore. Most worrying of all is his habit of giving up when the ball goes past him. He does not appear to run back.

Mertesacker is simply not physically capable anymore

Who was the man of the match?

Danny Welbeck led the line brilliantly.

After Theo Walcott last week, and Olivier Giroud before that, this time Arsene Wenger turned to Welbeck and his pace and strength constantly worried Spurs’ defence. His willingness to chase down lost causes and harry Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer was vital as Arsenal played on the break.

Welbeck is also a skilful forward as he showed in twice tricking Alderweireld to run in behind. Welbeck played a key part in Aaron Ramsey’s goal. Welbeck’s finishing can be a weakness and he should have scored with a header. But he never stopped harrying and hurrying the Spurs defence as Arsenal dragged themselves back into the game.

Danny Welbeck had a fine game 

What's next?

Tottenham's next five fixtures

Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham (EL) - March 10

Aston Villa v Tottenham (PL) - March 13

Tottenham v Borussia Dortmind (EL) - March 17

Tottenham v Bournemouth (PL) - March 20

Liverpool v Tottenham (PL) - April 2

Arsenal's next five fixtures

Hull City v Arsenal (FAC) - March 8

Arsenal v West Brom (PL) - March 12

Barcelona v Arsenal (CL) - March 16

Everton v Arsenal (PL) - March 19

Arsenal v Watford (PL) - April 2