Arsenal will host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in Matchday 4 of the Premier League. The fixture has a long and illustrious history of being one of the most intriguing games in the English top flight.
Spurs have been inconsistent so far and there are many areas they need to improvise on. At home, the Gunners will be intimidating as usual and will enter the North London derby clash as the favourites.
Here are three reasons why Unai Emery’s troops could make Mauricio Pochettino’s side return empty-handed this weekend.
ARSENAL vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Arsenal’s Threatening Attack
Following the acquisition of Nicolas Pepe for a club-record transfer fee of £72million from Lille during the summer transfer window, Arsenal unarguably have one of the most lethal attacking setups in Europe.
Pepe is seemingly likely to start this weekend alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. While Pepe and Aubameyang have a frightening pace, Lacazette is a clinical striker who works incredibly hard upfront.
More often than not, Arsenal dominate on their home turf and could be on the front foot against their bitter rivals. If their attackers can get along and churn a good partnership, they will certainly be hard to stop.
Spurs’ Stuttering Defence
The backline of the Lilywhites has been far from convincing so far this season. They looked vulnerable against Manchester City during their second league outing but were lucky enough to concede just a couple of goals.
Their frailties were evident against Newcastle United last weekend. In the first half, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld left a sizeable gap at the back and they were punished by Joelinton who ran in between to score.
Full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker-Peters have been criticized for over-committing themselves forward. Spurs’ defence hasn’t settled yet and Arsenal’s attackers will definitely aim to exploit their loopholes.
Emery’s Unpredictable Tactics
In Emery’s first season at Arsenal, the Spaniard might not have achieved success in terms of silverware but there was certainly a positive change in the approach. It is hard to predict his tactics beforehand, which have been productive.
Last season, Arsenal operated with a three-man backline at home against Spurs and registered an emphatic 4-2 win. He has been fearless with his tactical formations and is expected to allow his players to play an attacking brand of football.
Emery has also switched to 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations depending upon the opponent. With the knack to have possession and start playing from the back, Arsenal have made quick transitions and have been very effective.
