Steve Nicol thinks experience was the biggest factor in the loss to Crystal Palace. (1:02)
It is almost five years to the day since the away supporters of Crystal Palace chanted "you're not fit to wear the shirt" at the subpar full-back.
The team's recent buoyancy under Mikel Arteta did not prompt the same mockery as the defeat by the same score on Monday featured another shambolic display from a defender. Arteta has focused a lot of his work since taking charge in December of last year to eradicate a culture of under performance that reared its head again here.
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A spirited Palace side brutally exploited the weaknesses of the other in a showing that raises serious questions about the stability of the race for a top-four finish. With no European or domestic cup football to play in, Arteta streamlined his group in January, allowing five players to leave the club without a single first-team signing.
Recent results have made that look a shrewd call, but it would only take a couple of injuries to show that, and that is where Arteta is now. The club is concerned that a knee problem could sideline him for the rest of the season.
Arteta said that the feeling that he had was not positive and that the scans showed something.
He lasted just 34 minutes before being replaced in the FA Cup third-round defeat. He threw his gloves to the floor. On his first start since, he was withdrawn at the interval and by the time he got to the end of the game, they had already thrown in the towel.
Arteta said that they were late to every ball, soft in the duels, and didn't earn the right to play. We didn't have any dominance, any sequence of play where we could take control of the game and we conceded two poor goals as well, so overall it is unacceptable, put our hand up, apologize, regroup and tomorrow is a new day.
Palace began with purpose and purpose, as Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring with a 16th-minute head-high clearance. Ben White's foul to give Gallagher a chance to deliver was poor, but Gabriel's positioning eight minutes later was worse, failing to cut out Andersen's pass to Jordan Ayew who steered a low shot past Ramsdale.
They lacked conviction in their play and intensity in pressing. The decision to single out Tavares at the break felt bigger in the context of Tierney's likely absence.
Arteta has other options at left-back, such as Granit Xhaka, who deputised there in the second half, and Cedric Soares, who could switch from right-back if Takehiro Tomiyasu returns from a calf injury. Arteta explained away as a "tactical reason" for the humiliation that Tavares now has to overcome. It was Nuno again but we had to do it, and the Portugal youth international may yet be required in the final nine matches given how stretched the squad may become.
Midfielder Thomas Partey could be another casualty of the illness that forced Nicolas Pepe out. The player pulled up with a limp after losing the ball to Wilfried Zaha in the second half. Partey hobbled off injured, holding his thigh, after being clipped in the box by Martin Odegaard, who earned a penalty he dispatched moments after.
Arteta said that he felt something in the same area where he got injured.
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The supporting cast were unable to take chances that could have led to a revival because they were unable to offset Lacazette's modest goal return.
This was a bad night for the north London club, who ended the weekend in fourth place and have now emerged as the most serious rivals for the top-four spot. The seven-goal swing in Spurs' favour was completed here by Palace.
It was more proof of the job Patrick Vieira is doing at Selhurst Park. Arteta was considered for the job at his former club after the departure of the manager, and he will surely be a candidate to return to his former club in the future.
He will be aware of the history of the club. Many of the away section stayed to show their support as Arteta applauded them at full-time. They have come a long way together, so not to allow one poor outing to divide them.
In the final eight league matches of the year, they won seven of them. Although they won the FA Cup, they missed out on a place in the top four because they lost to their bitter rivals in the run-in. This chastening evening is a warning.
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