Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur reacts with Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

Arsenal hosted Spurs in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night in the second north London derby of the season. Here are five things we learned from the 2-0 defeat.

It was a disappointing end to a run in a competition that Arsene Wenger never won. Unai Emery’s Arsenal, after seeing their 22-game unbeaten run end against Southampton on Sunday, were hoping for a bounce-back in the second North London Derby of the season. Unfortunately, they were not to find out, losing 2-0 in a rather consummate manner, falling out of the EFL Cup in the process.

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Here are five things we learned from the underwhelming, letdown loss.

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

5. Unai Emery prefers a back four

Every manager should know their best team. It is a principle that has run through the very fabric of football for many years. It is crucial that a manager knows his best XI. And while Unai Emery may still be figuring it out, which is understandable given that he is at a new team with new players, still in the process of constructing his squad, it is clear that a back-four is his preferred system.

In recent weeks, Emery had utilised a 3-4-3 system. And to some success. With Sead Kolasinac far more comfortable at wing-back than full-back, the change in formation suited many of the Arsenal players. But when everyone is fit and healthy, I do believe that Emery, when choosing, would select a back-four based system, either the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the personnel. He reverted to the 4-2-3-1 here, although he shifted to a 3-5-2 at half-time.

Whether that is a good thing or not is somewhat inconsequential. Every system has its pros and cons. The execution of the system is far more important than the system itself. But the fact that Emery, I believe, wants to play with a back-four does mean that the players will have to fall in line. Where, for instance, would Kolasinac fit? The back four is the future of Emery’s Arsenal.