In reverse of this fixture, Arsenal handed Tottenham a rare 2-0 derby defeat at the Emirates. Now Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be looking to avenge that defeat and extend the Argentinean’s impressive record against Arsène Wenger. Tottenham are unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 league games against the Gunners. Will this one add to that trend or will Arsenal finally get back into the top 4 race? Let’s see.
Here are three key battles to watch out for in the North London derby.
3 Moussa Dembele vs Granit Xhaka
At Wembley, the midfield battle will be key to deciding the outcome of the North London derby. In the past, the midfield has been the driving force for Arsenal’s unprecedented success, but in recent seasons, their midfield has been their biggest weakness.
The arrival of Granit Xhaka has highlighted that weak point as his performances have displayed everything wrong with the Gunners. It’s now imperative that Swiss international stands up to be counted as he’ll be defending against the most finely balanced midfield in the league.
Moussa Dembele is a world class ball carrier that helps relieve his team of pressure in their toughest moments. Dembele may not be the fastest, but the speed at which he dribbles with the ball will make him too quick for Granit Xhaka’s brain to comprehend.
2 Harry Kane vs Shkodran Mustafi
As arguably the best striker in the world, Harry Kane has become every defender’s nightmare. He may not be the quickest or most technically gifted, but his insatiable desire to score goals makes him impossible to track or mark.
The 24-year-old’s movement bamboozles centre-backs, and he often times his runs to perfection. So, for Shkodran Mustafi, this will be the biggest test of his Arsenal career so far. The German has proved since arriving in England that he’s not the best decision maker. Mustafi has been shown to be an irrational defender that lunges into tackles without a second thought.
If he displays that rashness against Harry Kane, the Englishman will have a field day. Knowing Harry Kane, regardless of whether Arsenal deploys a back three or four at Wembley, he’ll target Shkodran Mustafi as he knows that’s who he can get the most joy against.
1 Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang vs Davinson Sánchez
Arsenal’s new £56million-rated man has been highlighted for his electrifying pace. The fear of his speed automatically pushes defensive lines 5 or 10 yards back in anticipation. That would be the case for most defences, but with Davinson Sánchez in Tottenham’s team, Mauricio Pochettino has nothing to worry about.
The Colombian defender is one of the quickest defenders around, on top of that, he has the composure to time his tackles at great speeds. He’s perhaps the one defender in the Premier League that could keep up with Aubameyang on the ground and outjump him in the air.
If the 28-year-old is to get the better of Davinson Sánchez, he will need his teammates to help overload the centre-back. If not, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang could be ‘pocketed’ for the first time in England.
