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Arsenal vs Tottenham: 5 key players with anticipation brimming

By Josh Sippie

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal look to carry their momentum into the North London Derby. Here are five players that can make this match one to remember.

Arsenal, Mesut Ozil
Arsenal, Mesut Ozil(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Arsenal are coming off three straight demonstrative wins after having startlingly lost in Belarus in the first leg of the knockout phases against BATE Borisov. They came back in the return leg and put in a conclusive 3-0, followed it up with a 2-0 win over Southampton which, while comfortable, was clearly missing a few pieces and then, most recently, those pieces came together in a 5-1 stomping of Bournemouth.

It’s all coming together rather nicely, and just in time for the North London Derby, a match that can bring the Gunners to within a point of their rivals.

The Spurs are coming off a frustrating 2-0 loss to chaos-ridden Chelsea, so these two clubs will find themselves on opposite ends of the momentum spectrum as they step into the ring to do battle.

Related Story. 5 Things Learned Against Bournemouth. light

Regardless, both sides will have a ton to prove, and they both have the resources to prove it, so it will be up to the organization and the individual talent to secure the three points. And seeing as how that’s the case, let’s cut right to the five key players for the Gunners.

We start with No. 5.

5. Sokratis

Nothing makes me shake my head more than when someone like Laurent Koscielny goes down with an injury just minutes before the end of the match. The captain is arguably the most important player on the club yet again, with the life he has breathed into this defense, so with him questionable, we have to look to his deputy, Sokratis, for answers.

Sokratis was pretty demonstrative in the reverse fixture, and if he were ever to step up again, this would be that time.

Assuming Koscielny can’t go, it will undoubtedly fall on Sokratis to be the crux on which the defense operates. He will probably have to play clean-up for his defensive mate, Shkodran Mustafi, and he’ll otherwise just need to have a fantastic game because, unlike Bournemouth, Spurs are a team that can make you pay for your mistakes.

Moving on to No. 4.