NLD – Protecting & Using the Width is Key

The North London derby certainly promises goals, cards, and unbearable nerves. This isn’t anything new to us fans. However Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and should they make the match day squad Vlad Chiriches, Eric Lamela, and Christen Eriksen will all learn the importance of this great rivalry on Sunday. Despite our great purchases this transfer window Arsenal are always a tough nut to crack, especially at the Emirates. Over the past two seasons we’ve suffered two 5-2 defeats at the hands of the Gunners and it is time to make those matches forgotten memories.

It is likely that Arsenal will line up with a 4-2-3-1 : Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Wilshere, Ramsey; Walcott, Rosicky, Cazorla; Giroud. With Arteta and Podolski injured, Santi Cazorla will probably be pushed out to the left side of their midfield as an advanced playmaker.

Spurs will most probably start with a 4-3-3. It is likely that AVB, who is now a boy with too many toys to play with, will probably select a team looking like : Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue, Paulinho, Dembele; Chadli, Soldado, Townsend. We may have to wait a little longer to see our Friday transfers make their debut.

Arsenal, like Swansea, play attractive football. The midfield trio of Capoue, Paulinho, and Dembele will need to press Woolwich quickly as they did against the Swans. The trio were rested on Thursday likely meaning that they will all feature against Woolwich.

The work they will be required to do will be tough and draining. Defensively this midfield is very physical and could prove to be a problem for Arsenal, however this could also limit our attack. Much has been made about Dembele in an advanced position, he is great at linking the play between a DM and AM through his great strength and dribbling skills. Yet he is not the greatest at penetrating passes in the final third, and lacks creativity which could be an issue.

Soldado did not have a single shot against Swansea, excluding the penalty, and needs to be involved a lot more in this game. It would be a big call but I believe Lewis Holtby could start instead of Dembele on Sunday. He played a great game on Thursday, albeit against not so great  opposition, and scored his first goal for Spurs.

Holtby offers more creativity and ideas in the final third of the pitch, despite his smaller size he still possesses great strength and loves to get stuck into a tackle. He may not be 100% match fit though, so even if not in the starting 11 he would be a great option coming off the bench. Last season his best games came in this position of a 4-3-3. The 2-2 draw against Everton and the victory against Man City were great showcases of how Holtby can play in a deeper role than the number 10 position he has played at Schalke and Germany u21.

A clear motive in this game would be trying to stop Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard will likely feature on the left for Arsenal, but will always look to drift infield and thread passes through the centre. Capoue will have to be on top of his game to try to intercept these passes and pressure Cazorla so that his time on the ball is limited. If we can negate Cazorla’s influence in the game it would mean a heavy decrease in the number of clear chances that Woolwich produce.

Many would argue that Theo Walcott facing Danny Rose would be a standout weakness for the Spurs team, and the fast winger could do damage against our high line. Rose put in an honourable shift against Walcott twice last year for Sunderland, but Sunderland had greater issues in other areas so Rose wasn’t threatened too heavily. This will not be the case on Sunday as Wenger may view our left back as the defensive weak point of the team.

I believe Glyfi Sigurdsson would be a more reliable name on the team sheet to nullify Walcott, as opposed to Chadli. Sigurdsson may not have much of a future at White Hart Lane given the arrival of Eriksen, but the Icelander still does plenty off unnoticed work off the ball. Sigurdsson really tracks back to help his full back, while also offering a very high work rate and despite his obvious lack in confidence can still be a goal threat.

On the Tottenham attack, I expect Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend to create the majority of our attacks through the right side. Santi Cazorla is likely not to hold width and our Englishmen will exploit this on the counter. I have never personally rated Gibbs and it is unlikely he can deal with our right hand side. Townsend will be cutting inside, at pace, on his left foot and Walker will be an ever present option on the overlap. It is also worth noting that Walker has terrific vision and could very much provide a plethora of opportunities in this game.

In conclusion it is essential that we show more creativity in our attacks, this could be achieved through the introduction of Holtby. It is also imperative that Santi Cazorla should not be allowed time on the ball, and Walcott must be doubled up against potentially by Sigurdsson and Rose. My prediction is an entertaining 2-2 draw.

[author name=”Jai B” avatar=”https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1659352356/IMAG0018.jpg” twitter=”Jai_B” tag=”JaiB[/linequote]