Arsenal Vs Spurs: Pressure, panache or protection?

Arsenal host the first North London derby of the season on Saturday lunchtime. Given Spurs’ quality, should Arsene Wenger play with pressure, panache, or protection?

Arsenal have played three games against the top six this season. All three came away from home: A 4-0 dismantling at the hands of Liverpool; a steely and industrious 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge; a predictable and consummate 3-1 loss to Manchester City prior to the international break.

In all three games, Arsene Wenger, surprisingly, implemented a slightly different nuance in his side.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Against Liverpool, they were open and attacking, looking to overawe them with the sheer quality of their play. In the draw with Chelsea, they sat deep, relinquished possession, sat deep, and soaked up the Blues’ attacking play. In the latest loss to Manchester City, they fleetingly attempted to press high up the pitch, suffocating City’s pretty passing and engineer attacking opportunities by winning back possession in advanced zones. So, as we build up to the first North London derby of the season, should Wenger play with panache, like against Liverpool, protection, like against Chelsea, or pressure, like against City?

Well, the first thing to consider is the opposition. Unlike Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur are not vulnerable in defence. They cannot be easily exposed with sweeping, overloading attacking moves. They are disciplined and well-organised. And unlike City, they are a little more conservative in their passing, willing to be direct, playing lofted, longer and straighter passes up to Harry Kane and Dele Alli when the situation calls for such evasive action. Consequently, winning the ball high up the pitch is not as accessible a tactic.

So that perhaps suggests that Wenger should adopt a similar tactic as he did against Chelsea. Certainly, Chelsea are perhaps the most comparable team to Spurs. They both share a bulldozing centre-forward, they are both defensively strong, they both have a blend of defensively-sharp and offensively-creative midfielders, complemented by athletic full-backs who stretch the wide channels of the pitch.

However, while that was a tactic that did have success against Chelsea earlier in the year, it is not one that Arsenal traditionally find useful. They do not focus on it in training; they are not innately comfortable with the shape and the structure; they lack the necessary concentration and discipline to play in such a manner for a full 90 minutes. Additionally, they are at home, which, while an ostensibly external and inconsequential reason, does have an effect on the atmosphere if they take such a conservative and defensive approach.

Next: Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 key players to watch

As a result, I would like to see Arsenal play on the front foot. That does not mean recklessly, like they did at Anfield. But it means with vigour and vibrancy, hounding and harassing Spurs, stepping their foot on their throats whenever they get the chance to. This team always looks best when they play high up the pitch and press their opposition, no matter how dangerous they may be. Whether Wenger will agree, however, I have my doubts. I guess, in due course, we will find out.

Home/Arsenal News