Tottenham 'scared' of set-pieces as 'frantic' Guglielmo Vicario blamed for Arsenal derby winner | OneFootball

Spurs’ major weakness under Ange Postecoglou was further exposed by Gunners defender Gabriel in tense north London tussle

Jamie Redknapp has questioned whether Tottenham are “scared” of defending set-pieces after their north London derby defeat by Arsenal.

Despite dominating possession at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Spurs lost 1-0 with Gabriel scoring for the Gunners from a corner.

The goal was the 16th that Spurs have conceded from a set-piece in this calendar year so far, with 13 of those coming from corners - the second-highest number in the Premier League.

And former Tottenham midfielder Redknapp said on Sky Sports: "When I look at Tottenham, certainly from set-pieces, it feels like fear. It feels like they're scared.

"For the goal, in that six-yard box, everybody - James Maddison, Micky van de Ven - is just holding on to their man for dear life. It's panic, it's fear. Mikel Arteta said it: 'Can we get the delivery right? Can we attack the ball?'

"I think about the great teams at set-pieces, Chelsea used to keep Didier Drogba as a free man because they knew he might not be the best at getting involved in marking somebody. But you say to him: 'You go and attack the ball. You're so good at attacking the ball, don't worry about marking somebody.'

"Alan Shearer, when he defended the near post, he was always fantastic at just going to leap.

"I think everyone is so conscious of not being the one who makes a mistake. I've got my man, I'm taking care of this. Instead of thinking there's only one ball, go and attack it and make sure they don't score."

Spurs set-piece woes: Gabriel rose highest to head home for Arsenal from a corner to win the north London derby

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Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario looked uncomfortable at times during the game against Arsenal, and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes he was at fault for the goal.

"It's poor defending from [Cristian] Romero,” Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast. “He has got to stay tight to Gabriel. I will go hard on the goalkeeper. I played with dominant and not-so-dominant goalkeepers, and it's an absolute must for me to have a goalkeeper that's brave.

"He was a yard or so off his line, but he was getting involved. That ball lands three or four yards in your zone, and I'm not having this idea that goalkeepers get blocked.

"The great goalkeepers, if they get blocked, it's a foul and a whistle will go. He has to come out and punch that. He has to help Romero. That's the expectation of me as a defender that my goalkeeper has to come out and catch it or punch if it's three or four yards out from the centre of the goal.

"I don't care how it's being played in, your starting position should be one or two yards out, you should be able to step and catch or punch.

“The idea that he gets involved all the time, he's pontificating, he's always whinging before the ball comes in, his arms are everywhere, he's a bit frantic. I don't want to see that.

"The best goalkeepers will come out the odd time and flap and miss, but that doesn't stop them from doing the right thing the next time.

"You don't want an emotional goalkeeper in my opinion. You want calmness. It's a rock, it's your last line of defence.

“I don't want them shouting and putting their arms everywhere because it creates anxiety in the crowd and with your defenders. I wanted him to be more dominant."

Neville’s view on the Italian was shared by Arsenal legend Lee Dixon, who said on NBC Sports: “Vicario is probably the worst I’ve seen from a goalkeeper of his height dominate his six-yard box. He doesn’t do it.”