Arsenal: 4 key player battles vs Tottenham in the derby

Arsenal vs Tottenham has history. Lots of it. And it’s not just the results that are memorable as throughout the years these two have faced each other there have been meaty duels and player battles to add ferocity to the already fierce.

Patrick Vieira ended up picking a few scraps down the years, Abou Diaby didn’t think too much of Hossam Ghaly, and Jack Wilshere squaring up to Gareth Bale brings back a few memories.

In huge derby matches such as these individual battles tend to take on more significance. The matches are meticulously picked apart in the build up and every aspect of the clash is viewed through a microscope.

Either sides’ weaknesses and strengths are quibbled over and who gets the better of who in the one-on-one duels also gets a mention.

https://twitter.com/PainInThArsenal/status/1441358485992607745

4 key player battles in Arsenal vs Tottenham for Sunday’s North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium

And it’s the latter of those that will be looked at here for Sunday’s North London Derby.

It’s engrossing and you can’t get it out of your head as soon as it’s the next fixture on the list. In truth, even before the AFC Wimbledon match it was there in the back of the mind. Even when the Premier League fixtures are first announced, Tottenham is the first name you look for.

In what will be the 204th North London Derby meeting, rarely, if ever, before have both teams come into the fixture on such a low ebb. Arsenal are at their weakest point for 25 years with no European football and Spurs find themselves as a Europa Conference League side who too are drifting away from the top four.

Multiple factors will decide who comes out on top in this one as Arsenal aim for their 84th victory over their rivals, with four particular player battles standing out as crucial in this tie.

1. Eric Dier vs Bukayo Saka

Will Bukayo Saka play out on the right? He should, it’s his best position, and if he does then it will see him undoubtedly cross paths with his friend from the England camp, Eric Dier.

(Nobody in the Emirates crowd shares Saka’s sentiment)

Playing on the left of the central defenders, he is slow and cumbersome. He is, in other words, a target.

Saka has many delightful qualities but arguably his standout is the out-to-in runs he makes. They’re majestic, graceful and beautifully timed. Few can stop them. Slow and cumbersome defenders are not part of the few.

Getting Saka running at Dier is one of the avenues where Arsenal will find joy. One of the best underlappers in the Premier League (seriously), if he’s supported down the right then he can exploit the space between Dier and Sergio Reguilon.

It’s inevitable that Dier will be part of the weekly rotational fouling Saka is subject to, therefore ensuring Saka is the in dangerous areas where such risks can be taken will be crucial.

Continued…

2. Nicolas Pepe vs Emerson Royal

There is a rather large question mark over this battle. Namely, is Pepe even going to play, and, would he be out on the left if so?

So this is open for rotation, with whoever lines up down the left wing having to try and isolate Emerson Royal who is still adjusting to this league.

He had a torrid afternoon at Selhurst Park where Wilfried Zaha got the better of him every single time, with the Brazilian trying every method from being touch tight, to aggressive, to stand-offish to then blatantly fouling him and letting Japhet Tanganga take over.

Given he was someone Arsenal wanted to sign, it might have felt like a bullet dodged. While that assessment can’t be made yet as few do have joy against Zaha and it’s very early days into his Spurs career, the point still stands that he’s adjusting to the division.

Pepe would be the ideal candidate to exploit his lack of pace and use a range of angles to attack his zone, although it could also be an Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney combination in which case it falls on the Scot to pull off his trademark tap and burst skill to beat the opposing full-back.

Still not up to speed with the Premier League and also never having tasted a North London Derby atmosphere, it’s an area to get at.

Continued…

3. Aaron Ramsdale vs Heung-min Son

Given how deep Harry Kane drops these days in a bid to facilitate play, Heung-min Son is likely to be the main goal threat for Tottenham.

The scenario we’ve all seen before and played through in our heads is Arsenal dominating the ball and being hit with a Son sucker punch on the counter-attack. Each time it’s replayed the ball ends up in the back of the net.

But there is a new goalkeeper in town.

Aaron Ramsdale is now the undisputed number one and it he’ll have to make a couple of crucial interventions throughout Sunday. Even if Spurs have recorded the lowest xG in the league this season, they boast a player like Son who can score from near enough anywhere. Arsenal know that all too well.

With the high line set to be implemented, the threat of Son in behind will be prevalent.

Ramsdale has been superb since coming into the team but the area of his game where he’s weakest is how he gets off his line in one-on-one situations. Sometimes too hesitant or other times too cautious, that balance hasn’t been struck and it’s one of the key areas of doubt supporters had upon his signing.

Son rarely misses and his conversion rate from shooting is obscene. There are few players in the division with as many techniques of striking the ball: Ramsdale will have his toughest test in an Arsenal shirt by far on Sunday. Never mind Burnley, he’s facing top class talent now.

Continued…

4. Gabriel vs Harry Kane

This particular battle is an interesting one as it may not be anywhere near as lengthy as it was in the previous home meeting between these sides.

When Arsenal claimed a 2-1 win over Spurs back in March, Gabriel had Harry Kane in his pocket. He bossed him that day. The Englishman didn’t get a sniff. So minimal was his impact that he ended up changing centre-back and targetting David Luiz hoping to get more joy.

After a brilliant start to the season for Gabriel with strong displays against both Norwich and Burnley, the simple task of dealing with a world class striker faces him next.

How deep will Kane be dropping? There will be a plan to try and cut off Partey’s supply line and there is a decent chance that Kane will be tasked with doing so. Aerially, however, seeing whether he goes for Gabriel or Ben White will be interesting.

Ask Gabriel and he’ll want to renew his tangle with the 28-year-old. Having got the better of him once, and with the England captain not in his finest form at present, sticking at him and shutting him down early will be the ideal way to set the tone for the match.

What’s great as well is that the fans trust Gabriel to do this job. Kane is an outstanding footballer, so to have that faith speaks volumes of the Brazilian.

Another monsterclass needed.