Arsenal’s tactical blueprint to beating Tottenham in the derby

With what is at stake for both sides, Arsenal can ill-afford to approach the North London Derby in the wrong manner. Mikel Arteta will have gameplans aplenty, but which would suit best?

Across this final stretch of games the manager has leaned on flexibility and versatility to drag the Gunners closer to the finish line. Changes in personnel and shape have brought with them mixed results, although the latter formula has struck potential gold.

Short-term gain over long-term vision has been the mantra. Mohamed Elneny coming into midfield in place of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares moving out of left-back in place of others are just two examples of going horses for courses to secure the results needed to finish in the top four.

Experience has taken precedence over potential and for the the biggest derby against Tottenham in years it might require another tactical rethink in order to secure the only aim that is on anyone’s mind: winning this match.

Tottenham vs Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s tactical blueprint to winning the North London Derby and securing the Gunners Champions League football

A glance at the approach used away at Chelsea, a side who also adopt a back three system with wing-backs, could be the ideal blueprint to follow for the short journey up the Seven Sisters road.

However, alterations in personnel will be in order.

Starting with the defence, should Benjamin White be fit in time to feature there are strong calls for him to be moved into right-back. Facing Heung-min Son is a daunting task at the best of times, but the addition of a more defensively sound option there – one who isn’t Cedric Soares – will grant Arsenal security and flexibility.

Having shown his comfort in the position, this would mean keeping Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back. Out of possession this would result in a flat back four with the wide players offering protection against Spurs’ wing-backs, while in possession it can fluctuate into a back three.

Tottenham are one of the best sides on the continent at counter-attacking. Leaving yourself exposed to their strengths is ill-advised and having Tomiyasu tuck into midfield, perhaps with an eye on Harry Kane’s aerial strength when Spurs go long, allows Arsenal to keep bodies in the areas their hosts pose the most threat. There is room to swap the actions of the full-backs, but White tucked in could leave Holding exposed to Son.

Antonio Conte’s side will seek to profit from a lack of stability and foundation, something so many sides hand them on a silver platter, and reducing the risk of that chaos (why Nuno Tavares shouldn’t start) will avoid playing into their hands.

Building this defensive base also has benefits in other areas of the pitch.

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Saka and Martinelli High and Wide vs Spurs

Establishing a foundation at the back, one that is flexible and allows Arsenal to fluctuate between a back three, four and five as they did against Chelsea, means that their attacking players can exploit Spurs’ weaknesses.

Some will be calling for an all-out defensive/soak pressure and strike on the counter-attack approach. Beat Tottenham at their own game, as it were. Winning would be more glorious than it has in years, but equally, not losing still keeps Arsenal in a very strong position.

However, while Spurs’ strengths have to be looked into, so to do their weaknesses.

With the defensive setup and two central midfielders to match up with Hojbjerg and Bentancur, keeping Bukayo Saka (if he’s fit) and Gabriel Martinelli high and wide will pin Tottenham back and lay siege on the areas where their shape can be unpicked.

Emile Smith Rowe started in the win over Chelsea, but with Tomiyasu at left-back instead of the marauding Nuno, it means Arsenal can hold the width now and Martinelli is stronger on the touchline. His performances against West Ham and Leeds were chalk and cheese. The difference? The man who played left-back.

Getting in behind Spurs’ wing-back pairing of Sessegnon and Emerson will be key. It’s likely that Conte will aim to protect Emerson on their right, a position he is actively trying to upgrade in and even brought the much-maligned Matt Doherty out from the cold to play instead of prior to his injury. Martinelli’s devastating pace and trickery, the like which was front and centre of the win over Leeds, will force Romero to compensate and this will open the spaces for Nketiah to split the back three open.

The tactical battle will be fascinating to behold. Well, that’s if the entire 95 minutes won’t be spent watching through one’s fingers seeing the clock magically tick backwards…which it will.

Arteta and Conte have never come up against each other before, and this Premier League derby has yet to be played at the Toilet Bowl in front of a capacity crowd. Across the fixture it is inevitable that both teams will bend and break shapes and plans at an almost constant rate; it’s as much a battle for bragging rights for the teams as it is for the managers, even if the collective is all that matters.

But, of the potential approaches that Arsenal could adopt, this one feels like the one.