Arsenal Vs Spurs: Arsene Wenger has found his diamond

Arsene Wenger implemented a high-pressing system against Tottenham Hotspur. He has found his diamond. It is imperative that he and Arsenal now persist with it.

The first North London derby of the season has come and gone. And, somewhat surprisingly, is what a happy occurrence for Arsenal.

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Before the game, the topic of conversation centred on the potential power shift in North London. It made sense. For the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure, Spurs finished above the Gunners. And in emphatic style. In the last two full Premier League seasons, no team has amassed more points, scored more goals, and conceded fewer goals. They are more than just an emerging force; Mauricio Pochettino’s side were actually the favourites for this fixture.

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And yet, not only did Arsenal beat their rivals, but they did so in comfortable fashion. The 2-0 scoreline was actually kind on Spurs. This was far from a close match. And there were tactical changes that Wenger implemented to inspire an improvement in his team. The most evident, and impactful, was to demand a consistent, high-pressing strategy from his players.

In playing a front-three against a back-three, Wenger could have very easily allowed the lone striker to be sounded by the three centre-halves, asking his two wide attackers to drop into the midfield and track the wing-backs into defensive zones. But, instead, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, either side of Alexandre Lacazette, relentlessly pressed onto the wide centre-halves, suffocating Spurs of team and space throughout the whole of the pitch.

This pressure was what Arsenal’s success founded upon. Not only did it allow them to win the ball high up the pitch on numerous occasions, which is the more obvious consequence of playing in a high-pressing style, but it forced Spurs to go long.

Unfortunately for Spurs, though, because they had no time on the ball, their lofted and lengthy passes into Harry Kane and Dele Alli lacked accuracy. They were a little aimless, easily recoverable by the defenders, and allowed the pressure to build and build and build.

I have long said that the current crop of players suit a high pressing game. But, for whatever reason, Wenger has been reluctant to commit to it. The best three performances of the last three seasons — 3-o wins against Chelsea and Manchester United, and Saturday’s North London derby win — have all come through the results of the pressing high up the pitch.

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Wenger has found his diamond. He has discovered his ideal tactical system with the players that he has available to him. Let’s hope that, now, he will persist with it. It would serve him, and his squad, well.