da dobrowin： For perhaps the first time in Premier League history, it feels like Tottenham Hotspur are north London’s most dominant force heading into a local derby at the Emirates Stadium.
da mrbet： Indeed, Spurs finished in a higher position last season, enter Saturday’s 12.30pm kickoff higher in the table once again and despite the Gunners being the historic overlords in this fixture, they haven’t actually beaten their bitter rivals in the Premier League since 2014. In order for Mauricio Pochettino to turn that new dominance into three points this weekend, however, he must find the right answers for these three crucial questions…
Too much too soon for Harry Winks?
After showing glimpses of his ability last season, the last few months have seen Harry Winks suddenly emerge as a key component of Tottenham’s midfield, his short, sharp movements and metronomic passing making him the dictator of traffic with the ball in the engine room.
A Tottenham academy product as well, the 21-year-old will relish the chance to impress in the north London derby more than most. But the youngster has just recovered from an injury problem and it’s not as if Pochettino doesn’t have alternative midfielders to choose from in Mousa Dembele and Moussa Sissoko.
The former shares Winks’ deep-lying playmaker role so perhaps on this occasion, experience and composure should take precedent over Winks’ youthful enthusiasm.
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What can be learned from Tottenham’s tough away days?
Throughout his first three seasons at White Hart Lane, Pochettino averaged just 0.7 points per match from away days against big six rivals – rather worrying considering the big six haven’t always finished in the top six during that time – and Tottenham are already down on that return this year after coming away from Old Trafford without a point last month.
The pattern has gone on far too long to be written off as a coincidence and whether it requires a change in tactic, mindset or personnel, Pochettino must stop the rot this weekend, especially as Arsenal are easily the weakest members of the big six. Easier said than done, but Spurs will never win the title unless they can claim positive results during these tough away days.
Which formation suits the occasion?
Far from the days of 4-2-3-1 being the only game-plan, Pochettino has consistently shown tactical variety this season, setting up his side with back threes, back fours and even back fives while the complexion of the players further forward has consistently changed as well. That gives the Argentine gaffer a whole playbook to choose from on Saturday, so perhaps the most important question he needs to answer is which system suits the clash the best.
Most Tottenham fans would expect 3-4-3 this weekend with the majority of the squad fit and available. But Arsenal have adopted the formation as well and that could lead to both sides cancelling each other out, as we saw when the Gunners travelled to Stamford Bridge earlier this term.
Tottenham will surely be looking for all three points rather than settling for one, so perhaps a variation on the theme is needed – maybe a 5-4-1 that creates the space Tottenham have become so effective in on the counter-attack, or a 3-5-2 that puts two centre-forwards against the Gunners’ three defenders.