The Breakdown: Tottenham v Arsenal

 

 

MC: Mauricio Pochettino has rejuvenated Tottenham with his brand of high-energy, heavy-pressing football. Although it initially seemed as though Spurs were too reliant upon their pressing for their attacking play, they've developed a more creative side to their game over the past 18 months, with Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli providing great invention from between the lines.

 

 

MC: Pochettino has played both 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 in recent weeks, and Spurs seem equally comfortable in either system. The former means room for an extra attacking player, most likely Son Heung-min, whereas the former suits Tottenham's flying wing-backs, with Kyle Walker and Ben Davies - in place of the injured Danny Rose - able to motor forward more regularly.

 

 

MC: Tottenham's ability to recover the ball quickly remains their main strength. With Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld capable of playing a high defensive line and Hugo Lloris a comfortable sweeper-keeper, Spurs attempt to play the entire game in the opposition half, squeezing quickly and consistently.

 

AC: Central midfield is the key battlefield and the biggest head-to-head battle I’m looking forward to seeing. Arsenal’s engine room has come in for some criticism this season and hasn’t really settled on a partnership. They’ll be up against Mousa Dembele and one other, from Victor Wanyama or Eric Dier, a really strong, potent midfield unit. We have to compete with them and shield and protect our back three as best as we can

 

 

MC: Harry Kane's goalscoring ability can hardly be ignored, but Alli is Spurs' in-form player. His brilliant runs from midfield into goalscoring positions are often impossible to track, and his ability to provide a moment of magic in tight situations is useful in terms of both creativity and goalscoring.

 

 

MC: Spurs push their full-backs (or wing-backs) forward aggressively, which means teams can sometimes exploit the space behind them with quick counter-attacks and forwards happy to drift wide. Arsenal might make this a key part of their approach.

 

AC: They don’t really have a great deal of weakness, even against Chelsea in their defeat at Wembley. They didn’t play too badly. I don’t see any obvious things we can exploit. Maybe on the counter we will be able to hurt them, crosses into the box… I think Jan Vertonghen is maybe the weak link in their defensive line.