Arsenal Vs Spurs: What position are the Gunners better at?

As the North London derby draws near, I ask myself a simple question: In what position do Arsenal have better options than Spurs? Unfortunately, I fear that the answer might not be so positive.

As the North London derby comes into increasingly clear vision, the inevitable comparisons between the two clubs begin. And this year, with Tottenham Hotspur finishing above Arsenal for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure, such discussions are debates are all the more significant.

As I consider the state of the two clubs, their respective squads, the facilities, their standings in the footballing ether, I focus on one, somewhat concerning question: Does the Arsenal squad have better options at any position on the pitch than the Spurs squad?

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This is a question that is usually fairly equal and ambiguous to answer. It often depends on one’s personal opinion of players, such is the closeness in quality from one team to the other. Disregarding the odd position here and there that is especially strong or weak because of one outlying player, the top six teams, within reason, are, usually, fairly balanced. Consequently, asking which squad is better is a little bit of a meaningless exercise. Everyone has different evaluations of different players, but, at the end of it all, the process yields the same, or very similar, result. Here, though, that is not the case. In fact, it is, scarily, not even that close.

There are certain positions that Spurs are clearly stronger than their neighbours: Full-back, central midfield, centre-forward. There’s no debate there. Where there is perhaps more uncertainty is at goalkeeper, centre-half, and in the attacking midfield/winger position, which I am grouping as one given the increasing fluidity of teams in the modern era.

Although Hugo Lloris is a better keeper than Petr Cech, there is an argument to be heard that David Ospina provides better depth than Michel Vorm, which is only enhanced when the on-loan Emiliano Martinez is factored into the equation. But, at best, it’s 50:50.

At centre-half, Spurs again have the better starters in Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. But it could be suggested that Arsenal have the greater depth in Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, in contrast to Eric Dier, a makeshift central midfielder, and Davinson Sanchez.

The final position that is simply close is attacking midfield. Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are, roughly, equal with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, while perhaps Arsenal have the better depth with Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott waiting in the wings, instead of Heung-Min Son, Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko.

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Ultimately, though, after going through every position in the squad, with a rough comparison, it is difficult to say that Arsenal have the better options at any position whatsoever. That is somewhat worrying. Long gone are the days of Wenger’s sheer dominance. Spurs are an excellent team and Mauricio Pochettino deserves a great deal of credit.

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