Gary Lineker and Gary Neville offer contrasting Arsenal v Spurs verdicts as transfer claim made

The North London derby is always set up to be a big game, this season was no different with both Arsenal and Spurs going into the game level on points and flying high in the Premier League. The game ended in a 2-2 draw with goals from Bukayo Saka and Son Heung-min.

Pundits Gary Neville and Gary Linker have been reflecting on the battle. Arsenal dominated the first part of the game but throughout, it became clear that something was missing. Former Man United full back Gary Neville believes that the Gunners are in desperate need of a striker. On his podcast, he said: “You’ve got to have a couple of players in your team, at least one, who have that smell of where the ball is going to land.

“When you think of the forward lines we’ve seen at Barcelona with David Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi all those years ago – none of them are real strikers as in goal-sniffers. Sergio Aguero was, but we’re not even talking about that, we’re talking about someone who knows where to be.”

Neville was critical of Arsenal, saying that they didn’t capitalise on their chances and, had they had the right personnel, would have been able to clinch the game on a number of occasions. He added: “Gabriel Jesus, when he robbed James Maddison, these are big moments in the game and big things. You’ve got to be on the move and be sniffing, smelling, anticipating, and Arsenal haven’t got that.

“I really like this Arsenal team and they could go on to win a title or finish second, have a great season and win trophies without that type of player, but it became obvious in this game that it was missing.”

However, in contrast, the reaction surrounding Spurs has been positive. Ange Postecoglou’s side have been the underdogs in North London Derbys for a number of seasons, however they looked to keep up with the energetic Arsenal side yesterday. Former Tottenham and England striker Gary Lineker was appraising of his former team on Twitter.

He said: “Honors even but that’s a hugely encouraging performance from Spurs. Really good.”

Lineker also picked out individual performances from Postecoglou’s Spurs, he added: “Superb from Maddison, brilliant from Son. Wonderful game of football. Breathtaking!”