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Arsenal and Tottenham saw out a stalemate 1-1 draw this afternoon at the Emirates in what was a reserved North London derby.

A Kevin Wimmer – who was a surprise inclusion for Mauricio Pochettino’s side – own goal had gifted the hosts the lead.

However, shortly into the second half Mousa Dembele was brought down inside the Arsenal box to gift Harry Kane a penalty which he duly converted to mark his return to first team action since injuring himself back in September.

The goal was his 16th in 23 clashes between the two London giants, a remarkable tally for the striker who has been Spurs’ top scorer for the past two seasons.

While a point will not be considered a bad result for either, both sides would have been hoping to take more from the game. Arsenal would have found themselves top of the Premier League table with victory, while for Spurs – who are still undefeated in the league – it would have been the result to really kick-start their hit-and-miss season thus far.

These are the five things we at FFC learned from today’s derby …

Tottenham need Kane

Spurs have lacked a cutting edge in the final third since Kane’s injury back in September, as new signing Vincent Janssen has failed to have an impact since his arrival from AZ Alkmaar.

Kane’s return was colossal for Tottenham. The Englishman provides the front line with that much needed vanguard, as he links up excellent with the midfielders around him and is happy to both poach in the box and come deep to collect the ball. If Spurs want to challenge this season, they need him.

Dembele a class act

After all the hype around Mesut Ozil following his wonder goal in mid-week against Ludogorets, the German was made to look like an 15-year-old playing his first game of men’s football today against Mousa Dembele.

The domineering Belgian commanded the midfield all game, breaking up play and breaking forward when given the opportunity, even winning the penalty for his side early in the second half. I would struggle to name another midfielder better on the ball than Dembele in the Premier League.

Defence takes time

Arsenal have an array of midfield and attacking wealth at their disposal, however ultimately it will be their defence which will be their downfall come the seasons end if they aren’t careful.

Koscielny and Mustafi are forming a decent partnership, but their inability to communicate was once again demonstrated especially for Tottenham’s goal. If they can sure up their defence – which may well take time – Arsenal are a force to be reckoned with.

Alli not vital

The jubilation of Harry Kane being included in the starting line-up was met quickly with the disappointment at the absence of midfield starlet Dele Alli from the match-day squad.

What was apparent however was, that while he would have certainly been an addition to the side, Tottenham have more than enough numbers to not only cope but find a worthy replacement even for the big games. Son, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela and even Sissoko are more than capable of filling in, which is only a positive thing.

Undefeated > winning

So, it was not the fiery North London derby everyone had expected.

Why? It is simple.

Tottenham are undefeated in the league, and Arsenal are too besides the opening day. Neither side wanted to lose which is understandable, but did that in turn stop either of them chasing the game and making a real match of it? Staying undefeated is brilliant but it won’t necessarily bring you silverware.

Liverpool’s sensational summer signing Sadio Mane could barely be in better form this season. Part of Klopp’s fluid attacking system, he’s scored seven goals and assisted four more for the Reds – playing a pivotal role in their Premier League title bid.

That’s why then, his absence in January as he joins Senegal at the African Cup of Nations is sure to be felt hard by the Anfield faithful.

The Reds need a replacement but it seems silly to spend big money to do it. If Klopp can pick up an effective player on the cheap, by Liverpool standards, then it’s a win-win situation for all concerned.

A player gets a move to one of England’s biggest clubs, Klopp’s side don’t skip a beat, Mane has competition when he returns but still the status of Liverpool’s star man and the Reds’ budget isn’t severely dented.

With that in mind, here are four cut-price solutions to Mane’s potentially detrimental mid-season absence.

Jesus Navas

With just over 6 months left on his contract at Man City, Jesus Navas could be available for quite cheap if Liverpool are able to agree terms with the winger on a personal basis.

His wages will be likely be steep but the lack of a massive transfer fee could prove tempting for a player able to cut apart most Premier League defences on his day with scintillating pace.

He doesn’t score as many as Mane but knows how to get past his man and deliver assists. With plenty of speed and skill, he could be an excellent short term solution for Klopp.

Moussa Marega

Moussa Marega is taking the Portuguese leagues by storm, scoring ten goals in ten games for Vitoria Guimaraes. The in-form Malian star has the ability to play through the middle and on the wing, something that would beneficial to Klopp’s fluid attacking system.

Any move would be complicated to work out given that he’s on loan from Porto, but if a deal can be bashed out, he’d represent excellent value.

Anwar El Ghazi

Ajax winger Anwar El Ghazi is ready to make the next step in his career. Scoring over 20 goals for the Dutch side in just over 80 appearances, he’s shown excellent progress since making his debut at the age of 19.

Still just 21, Liverpool and Klopp would be a good move to continue his development.

The winger has had to prove himself again under new management in Amsterdam and found himself playing for Ajax’s second string through November.

A move in January could suit all parties and while a decent chunk of cash would likely have to spent on him, he certainly wouldn’t command the type of fee that brought Mane to Anfield in the summer.

Ashley Young

Bear with me here, Liverpool fans…

It’s not often Manchester United players are touted as potential Liverpool signings but a deal for Ashley Young could suit all parties.

Young is still an effective winger and if any manager can get the best out of him in the Premier League, we reckon it could be Klopp.

He’s struggling to get a regular game at United and a move for Young would give him an escape route and the chance to prove himself elsewhere. Given Mane isn’t away for long, he could offer cover and competition through to the summer at least.

It’s safe to say, Marouane Fellaini isn’t the most popular figure at Manchester United right now.Having concededÂa penalty against former club Everton that turned three points into one at Goodison Park just moments after entering the fray from the bench, the Belgium international received a raucous reception of boos as he warmed up at Old Trafford on Sunday – and again when he came on as a second half substitute.Of course, that’s hardly new territory for the lanky midfielder, who has endured maligned status for much of his Manchester United career.The obvious move on Jose Mourinho’s part would be to keep Fellaini out of the limelight as much as possible for the next few weeks until his indiscretions are forgotten, if not forgiven.But with a hectic winter schedule about to kick in and a difficult visitÂto Selhurst Park due on Wednesday night, the Crystal Palace trip could be Fellaini’s time to shine.Here are the stats to prove it…

Aerial bombardment

Make no mistake about it, Crystal Palace are the kings of aerial warfare in the Premier League, averaging the most successful aerial duels of any side so far this season.

And the statistics suggest that is no coincidence, with Alan Pardew’s boys also producing the most cross-per-match of any team in the division and the second-most long passes after relegation rivals Burnley (both images courtesy of Whoscored).

So logic suggests the Red Devils will face an aerial bombardment at Selhurst Park and although they’re by no means woeful in the air, ranking a respectable eighth, it’s impossible to overlook the added protection Fellaini can provide in that regard – especially operating just in front of 6ft. 3″ compatriot Christian Benteke.

The Belgium international has won the most aerial duels-per-match of any Premier League player this season (per Whoscored).

Set Pieces

Another area where Crystal Palace’s aerial supremacy is certainly paying off, exactly one third of their 27 Premier League goals have come from set-pieces this season (courtesy of Whoscored).

That’s a combination of expert deliveries from the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Jason Puncheon and their numerous aerial targets, not least including the aforementioned Benteke and defensive trio Scott Dann, James Tomkins and Damien Delaney.

In fact, Tomkins and DannÂhave scored five goals already this season, whilst the latter has bagged seven alone since the start of last term – the most of any defender in the Premier League as of October.

Fellaini the perfect antidote

We’ve already alluded to the kind of protection Fellaini would offer in the air but here’s the statistics to prove it. As shown by Whoscored, no Premier League player has won more aerial duels when starting in central/defensive midfield than the Belgian battering ram this season with an impressive four-per-match.

Once again, United are hardly weak in the air. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Phil Jones complete a tall and powerful spine, ensuring height and aerial ability throughout United’s XI. But Fellaini’s average of four when starting is the highest return throughout the Red Devils squad – albeit, the below batch of data (from Whoscored) also includes substitute appearances.

A day in the life of Pep Guardiola must be a frustrating experience. From glorious genius on his arrival, many have joyfully knocked him down since he arrived at Manchester City. Having recovered of late, though, the Catalan has enjoyed batting the media away with the disdain of a man thoroughly sick of the press conference questions already. Perhaps seeming a little on edge, maybe even having been shocked by how tricky his side have found the first few months of this season, Guardiola is about to begin his first foray into the FA Cup.

It comes at a time when the blue half of Manchester have suffered the pain of seeing Tottenham sneak above them in the table and lie seven points off the league leaders. A resurgent Manchester United have even closed the gap on them to three points, City’s stellar September form is now nothing more than a distant memory.

Some respite from the Premier League, despite winning four of their last five, is probably a welcome relief. As the fixture list briefly calms into something that allows players to occasionally train with their managers, Manchester City face West Ham in the FA Cup at London Stadium on Friday night. The Hammers are yet to produce a standard of football anywhere near the one they reached last season, but have edged towards results good enough to keep them away from the relegation battle for now at the very least.

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Both teams, then, will realistically be looking at the FA Cup as an aside from the Premier League. We can expect the match to be fought tightly and West Ham can focus on the cup without the threat of relegation looming over the fixture. Manchester City, meanwhile, are well aware that the Champions League is still over a month away from its return and guaranteeing a top four Premier League finish must be their primary aim for this season.

Whatever the previous squad building failings at Manchester City, and however long Guardiola may need to truly impose his style onto the team, even he will be under pressure if they finish the season far from the title and without silverware. The FA Cup, in a time when there are so many high profile Premier League managers, is a sure fire way to at least retain some credibility going into the summer.

For that reason alone, a cup run can be a welcome distraction from their Premier League underachievement. Assuming they are not too unfortunate with the draw, City should have the squad to cope with the extra matches even once the Champions League returns.

Maybe the FA Cup can even be an opportunity for City to experiment further, perhaps even to find the balance of their young players and give valuable game time to Kelechi Iheanacho and Leroy Sane. Many managers may see the competition as a run of injury-risking fixtures, but the FA Cup is a chance for Manchester City to rejuvenate their campaign.

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The pressure in the Premier League is refusing to relent as we enter the business end of the campaign. Indeed, there seems to be a heavyweight clash every weekend at the moment and the coming one is no different, with Spurs set to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

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It’s our Fixture in Focus here at FootballFanCast and with good reason; both sides are firmly involved in the Premier League title race this season and insist upon highly-energetic, entertaining styles of football. Furthermore, their last three meetings have ended in three wins each – including a 2-0 victory for Mauricio Pochettino’s side at White Hart Lane earlier this term.

Overall, City and Spurs are perhaps as close as ever in terms of quality, so we have a curious question for Lilywhites fans; which Man City stars would you like to see join Pochettino’s ranks at the Lane? Let us know by taking part in the poll below!

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Southampton fans were on a high entering the FA Cup this weekend after their heroic overcoming of Liverpool in the EFL Cup, winning 1-0 at Anfield earlier this week to seal their place at Wembley next month.With a strong record against Arsenal, the Saints would have fancied their chances of securing a positive result and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Instead, Claude Puel’s side endured one of the worst defeats in their history.

Losing by five goals in the FA Cup for the first time in 107 years, Southampton were torn apart by a second-string Arsenal side today. Whilst it has to be mentioned that the Saints also played a weaker side, the performance from the home team was awful.

Having made history this week by reaching a showcase final at Wembley, Southampton have now gone to the complete opposite end of the spectrum and will need to respond valiantly in the Premier League this week, where they face Swansea City.

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Plenty of Leeds United supporters have been left angered by the Football Association’s decision to charge manager Garry Monk following a touchline brawl with Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner.

Both coaches are facing punishment from the English governing body as Wagner was also charged for his role in the scuffle.

In the closing stages of the Yorkshire derby last Sunday, Michael Hefele scored a late winner to clinch the clash 2-1.

During the celebrations, Wagnar charged down the touchline and while walking through Leeds’ technical area, he was obstructed by Monk and a melee broke out.

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A statement from the FA read:

“Huddersfield’s David Wagner is subject to two alleged breaches of FA Rule E3 in that in or around the 89th minute, his behaviour in entering the field of play amounted to improper conduct. It is further alleged his behaviour upon his return to the vicinity of the technical area amounted to improper conduct.

“It is alleged that Leeds’ Garry Monk breached FA Rule E3 in that in or around the 89th minute, his behaviour amounted to improper conduct.”

The clubs have also been charged for failing to control their players, and all parties have until 6pm on February 10 to respond.

Fans have had their say on Twitter, with plenty baffled by the FA’s decision to target Monk, who currently sits fifth in the Championship with his club, seven points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.

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Chelsea have entered the race to sign long-term Liverpool target Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Monchengladbach, according to The Guardian.

What’s the word?

Chelsea have excelled in the Premier League this season under the guidance of Antonio Conte, and look set to win their second title in three years, but the Blues are not resting on their laurels and are keen to strengthen their side for a return to Champions League action next summer.

As such, their head has been turned by young German international Mahmoud Dahoud and Chelsea are ready to rival top-sides on the continent for the signature of the highly-rated 21-year-old; with a transfer frenzy set to occur this summer, as Dahoud enters the final year of his contract.

Borussia Monchengladbach have been unable to secure Dahoud down to fresh terms and it’s left the door open for a likely sale at the end of the season, especially with the Bundesliga side struggling to clinch a European spot for next year.

It won’t be easy for Chelsea to land Dahoud’s services though, as they face a wealth of competition for his services.

Who else is keen?

Liverpool are long-term admirers of the German ace and Dahoud has also attracted interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus- as reported by The Guardian.

The Premier League duo may fancy their chances of beating their continental rivals to Dahoud’s services as they can offer a much more lucrative financial package but first-team opportunities will be crucial to their discussions, as will any offerings of Champions League football.

Whilst Chelsea would perhaps struggle to offer the same opportunities that Liverpool could, the Reds face a much tougher task to land a top-four finish in the Premier League and may find themselves absent from Europe’s elite competition once again next term.

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Rangers have struggled to keep pace with Brendan Rodgers’ blistering Celtic side in the Scottish Premier League this season and are seeking changes following the messy resignation of Mark Warburton earlier this month.

Warburton and his assistant David Weir, along with head of recruitment Frank McParland, all had resignations accepted by the Rangers board at the start of the month- before their agents unsuccessfully tried to have them reinstated, although an exit was almost likely.

Interim boss Graham Murty is the bookies’ favourite to take the job on a full-time basis but a number of other managers have had their names linked with a move- including former Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic manager Malky Mackay.

Mackay endured an unsuccessful period in charge of Wigan and left Cardiff in December 2013, and has been out of club management since 2015- with his current position being performance director at the Scottish FA.

With his former links to Celtic though, where he spent five years between 1993 and 1998, Rangers fans are desperate not to see him brought into the Ibrox Stadium and have made their feelings clear on social media.

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With the transfer of power now complete at Ibrox, Rangers fans can now reflect on the last 5 weeks and what it’s meant to their season.

When Mark Warburton left acrimoniously it looked like the Gers’ season could go down in flames. It fell to Graeme Murty to guide them through the tumultuous time and although initial results weren’t great, he ultimately gave Rangers supporters their pride back.

Under Murty they progressed through two Scottish Cup ties, picked up a vital Premiership win against St Johnstone and managed to humble high-flying Celtic on their own patch.

The former Reading defender will now take a backseat from the glare of management and return to coaching behind the scenes.

In years to come fans will likely look back fondly on the U20s coach’s contribution to the club and give him the praise he deserves for stepping up and doing the job when no-one else could.

Supporters have been taking to Twitter over the last few days to share their thoughts on his key role…

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