Next Sunday at the Emirates, Arsenal welcome their bitter North London rivals Tottenham in a game that both teams really need to win.
Putting tribal hostility to one side it would be foolish to deny that Tottenham are a very good team, on their day they are a match for anyone, they are certainly not the bottle jobs they once were and as formidable an opponent we will face this season.
But they are very beatable, Newcastle United proved that yesterday and if Arsenal targets their weak spots then there is no reason why all three points will not go to Unai Emery’s men.
The Flanks
Tottenham is weak down the flanks, Danny Rose loves to lose the ball, he gets too far forward too often and his not the best tackler. Nicolas Pepe should eat him alive given half an opportunity. The chances are the right-back will be Serge Aurier if Kyle Walker-Peters is confirmed injured but it really does not matter, neither is world-class and Aubameyang will run them ragged.
Ball over the top
Tottenham play a high line and are very susceptible to the ball over the top as Newcastle showed yesterday, their central defenders are decent but they lack pace and any of the Arsenal front three have the speed to outrun them. A lot will depend on who Emery plays in the centre of midfield, if it is Ceballos or Ozil then great, if it is Guendouzi or Xhaka then not so much.
Low balls into the area
Tottenham does not handle low balls into the area, they are much better suited to dealing with the high ball than they are ball to feet. Whether the low ball comes in from the flanks or from the middle Tottenham struggle, Man City and in spurts, Aston Villa showed that. For some reason, they struggle when the ball is hit at pace no higher than waist height.
So, in conclusion, if Arsenal gets at the Tottenham wing-backs, whip the ball in low and counter-attack with a ball over the top then they will give themselves a huge chance of beating their most bitter opponents.