Arsenal will host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in a North London Derby where they are clearly inferior. How can they upset the odds? We’ve got the answers.
After all those years of telling their rivals to “mind the gap” – the Gunners fan will enter this derby for the first time in what seems like forever as a palpably inferior team. Sure, last season there was a bit of it, but now it’s truly codified: Spurs are better than Arsenal.
So how can the Gunners overturn their strutting neighbours? What could Arsene Wenger do in order to regain the throne of North London? We’ve got the answers:
1. Attack Eric Dier
This may seem counter-intuitive due to how well Dier is playing right now, but with Toby Alderweireld out the England man will be drafted into the defensive line. Now, he can play well there, but he’s more comfortable in midfield and is unquestionably the weakest defender Spurs will have as Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sánchez are rock solid.
Moreover if Mauricio Pochettino plays him on the right side of the defensive trio (as you expect he will, simply slotting into Alderweireld’s position) he will be exposed playing as a wide defender. The Gunners have plenty of talent and pace, and with Sead Kolasinac rampaging on the overlap they could repeatedly target Dier. This constant pressure could overwhelm him, forcing key mistakes
2. Mind the flanks
Spurs break well in wide areas. This should come as no surprise given how much importance Pochettino places on their full-backs, but it’s still something that needs to be considered. With their 3-4-2-1 system any of their attackers can peel wide to cause damage, e.g. Harry Kane against Real Madrid or Christian Eriksen, like, all the time.
Arsenal are likely to match systems with a 3-4-2-1 of their own and it’s crucial that their wing-backs are defensively aware. Blocking off the flanks will funnels Spurs attacks down the middle of the pitch and while they can play well there, it’ll be harder for them to create danger (as long as Arsenal also close down any open shooters).
3. Let Dele have the ball
Dele Alli is a magnificent footballer. He’s truly special and one of England’s brightest talents. He’s also much more of a goalscorer than a goal creator. Despite his love of the no. 10 shirt and the often deep positions he finds himself in; Dele’s primary attributes (his superb movement, his dribbling skills and his shooting) are all forward attributes.
Meanwhile Christian Eriksen is a much more potent creator. So Arsenal should turn their defensive focus onto him and allow Dele to dribble with the ball. After all, if he’s on the ball then he can’t make those deadly runs off it into space. And as long as Arsenal protect their flanks, they should be able to funnel the Englishman into their centre-backs and make Spurs much easier to defend and thus easier to defeat.
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