Archrivals: Tottenham, Arsenal square off at Emirates
Arsenal is coming off the more reasonable of the two Matchday 3 losses. The Gunners lost 3-1 to Liverpool at Anfield after opening the season with wins over Newcastle and Burnley.
There’s never a bad time for a match as big as a North London Derby, but the timing of the latest edition of the rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham isn’t great. The two arch-rivals square off in the English Premier League this Sunday at the Emirates in just their fourth game of the new season, and both sides are coming off losses.
Neither side is fully fit, and both are still trying to get their sea-legs under them for this new campaign.
But the timing of this North London Derby does come with opportunity. A win by either club would not only provide a kickstart to the new season, it would also leave the other with a two-game losing streak and a September international break to stew over how it’s all gone wrong. For both clubs, this North London Derby will be a tone-setter that will determine whether this first leg of the season was a success or failure.
Arsenal is coming off the more reasonable of the two Matchday 3 losses. The Gunners lost 3-1 to Liverpool at Anfield after opening the season with wins over Newcastle and Burnley.
Unai Emery attempted to deploy a defensive-minded approach and a diamond midfield against the Reds, inviting pressure and playing from the back. And for a spell, it seemed to work. Although Liverpool was dominating the game, Arsenal got its share of chances on the break and held the game scoreless for 40 minutes.
But the diamond eventually flattened thanks to Liverpool’s pressure, and Arsenal conceded on a corner close to halftime.
Any chance Arsenal might have had to make a comeback in the second half was quickly erased, as Mo Salah drew a penalty on David Luiz to go up 2-0, then 3-0 a bit later when Luiz was unable to challenge Salah because of the yellow card he was issued on the penalty.
Liverpool was always the better team and favored to win, but Emery’s regressive tactics kept Arsenal in the game until their mistakes compounded and allowed Liverpool to find openings. It wasn’t a bad plan, per se. Just a failed plan.
But Liverpool is one of the best sides in the world, and Anfield is one of the toughest places to play in the Premier League. It’s understandable that Emery wouldn’t try to play toe-to-toe with the Reds. But Tottenham is much closer to Arsenal’s level and Arsenal is playing at home. That should allow the Gunners to play something much closer to their natural game in the North London Derby.
Considering it’s just the second season under Emery—who is something of a tactical chameleon—and there are a handful of new, key players in the squad, it’s not entirely clear what Arsenal’s natural game will be. But most likely it will involve playing out of the back and springing quick counters from the lightning fast attackers.
EPL FIXTURES
TODAY, AUGUST 31
Southampton vs. Man Utd 2.30pm
Chelsea vs. Sheffield Utd 5pm
C. Palace vs. Aston Villa 5pm
Leicester vs. Bournemouth 5pm
Man City vs. Brighton 5pm
Newcastle vs. Watford 5pm
West Ham vs. Norwich 5pm
Burnley vs. Liverpool 7.30pm
TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 1
Everton vs. Wolves 4pm
Arsenal vs. Tottenham 6.30pm
