Tottenham picked players who could have put Arsenal’s defence under pressure, then hunkered into a fearful deep block

They may have finished with no points, 10 men and a familiar sense of entropy reasserted. They may have spent the opening quarter of this game in a state of neurotic all-out defence that looked at times like a brilliantly sarcastic parody of mature Mourinho‑ball. But Tottenham Hotspur did succeed in posing a fascinating conundrum during this north London derby.

How is it possible to play such a deep defensive block, but still concede a penalty via a flailing challenge by the last man desperately haring back to cover a breakaway? How is it possible to face off against a team with a defence that seems to be held together by brown string, and still approach your task like Floyd Mayweather trying to dodge his way through 12 rounds against some terrifying Mexican slugger?

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