Arsenal vs Tottenham: 5 things we’d like to see

Tottenham. There are no such occasions as friendlies when it’s Tottenham. Whether it’s the Mind Series or it’s the good old days of Robet Pires in his pomp, Arsenal vs Tottenham is a game to savour.

It hasn’t been much of an enjoyable visit making the short journey north of late. Not in the past seven away visits has victory been clinched. That’s far too long.

Pre-season had been relatively enjoyable up until the Chelsea defeat as despite no victories in Scotland against Hibernian or Rangers, the form and fitness of the team was steadily improving.

Thomas Partey’s injury was a huge blow building up towards the Premier League curtain-raiser away at Brentford, while the defeat on home soil to the Blues wasn’t especially enjoyable either. But it’s only pre-season, right?

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Arsenal vs Tottenham: 5 things we’d like to see in final pre-season fixture on Sunday to conclude Mind Series mini-tournament

Amid the daunting task of shipping out a wealth of players and trying to considerably improve the squad with new additions, all the fans’ anguishes and concerns can be briefly put aside for the four mile journey to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Nuno Espirto Santo’s side have their own transfer ongoings to be dealing with at present, with Harry Kane trying to force a move to Manchester City this summer to satisfy his taste for silverware, something he is only familiar with when it comes to methods with which to eat his food.

Having clawed their way back from a 2-0 half-time deficit at Stamford Bridge to draw 2-2 in their opening Mind Series match, there is the possibility of another Audi Cup-style moment to tell the grandchildren for Spurs on Sunday.

As for Arsenal, they can claim the incredible spoils of this prestigious competition if they beat Tottenham and score four or more goals. It’s a big ask but victory is all that truly matters in this one. Who cares about fitness so long as everyone stays fit?

Here is what we’d like to see on Sunday.

1. Albert Sambi Lokonga & Granit Xhaka in Midfield

The prospect of seeing a Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny pairing in midfield on the opening day of the season, which would be almost exactly five years to the day since they first played together in red and white, is all kinds of wrong.

It’s a glowing example of the wretched recruitment at this club. When you finish the seasons since their first outing together in 5th, 6th, 5th, 8th and 8th and head into the coming campaign with the same midfield after just one injury, it suggests quite strongly that the football club isn’t very good at buying players. Or selling them.

Not a slight on them individually as they’re not the sole reasons for those finishes, but it’s a painfully low ceiling that hasn’t been lifted.

Which is why Sambi Lokonga should start and the moaning can stop!

If Arteta does opt to go with Xhaka and Sambi from the off then it’s a positive indicator that he sees the potential of that partnership against the Bees.

The stomach twists and turns at the thought of Elneny being the Swiss’ partner and if Sambi maintains the strong form he’s shown throughout pre-season against Tottenham then there is no excuse not to field him in the fixture to come.

This is one special young Belgian the club have acquired.