Jamie Carragher has suggested on Monday Night Football, which was broadcast on Sky Sports, that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg’s lack of pace was exposed by Arsenal on Sunday.
Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend, and it is fair to say that Hojbjerg didn’t have his best game.
The Dane has played every Premier League minute for Tottenham this season and has become one of Mourinho’s most trusted players.
However, he was caught out regularly by Arsenal at the weekend.
Emile Smith Rowe continuously pulled him out of position with some clever movement, and Carragher felt his lack of pace was exposed by the Arsenal playmaker.
He said: “The tactic was when the ball goes wide ‘I’m off’. Emile Smith Rowe has come short and Hojbjerg is with him, the ball is not even at Tierney’s feet and he’s off, he’s gone.
“Freddie Ljungberg mentioned something before the game worrying about Hojbjerg’s lack of pace and I think this is what we saw here, he couldn’t keep up with him.
“You see the pace, his spun in behind and Tottenham’s centre-back never cover and he’s too quick for Hojbjerg.”
Hojbjerg’s failure to really win the physical battle for Tottenham in midfield hurt their chances.
Spurs did not play with the attacking flair that they have shown recently, with Arsenal playing most the game on the front foot.
In the end Tottenham could have few complaints about the scoreline, as Arsenal brought their winning run crashing to a halt.
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