Tottenham vs Arsenal: Eriksen to usurp Ozil as North London's creator-in-chief

Sunday’s North London Derby has the potential to live long in the memory for Tottenham fans. For 21 years, they have been forced to bear witness to ‘St. Totteringham’s’ day by Arsenal, when it becomes mathematically impossible for the former to catch the latter. A win for Spurs, though, would see them guaranteed to finish above the Gunners for the first time since 1995 and they certainly have the means to earn a vital three points on Sunday. 

“My challenge and my aim is not to be above Arsenal. My challenge and my aim is to be above 19 teams and be on the top,” Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. The Argentine is focusing on the bigger picture, but there is no denying that both he and the fans would love nothing more than a Spurs win to not only improve their title chances, but usher in a new era of dominance in north London.

Either way, tensions will run high at White Hart Lane on Sunday. This North London Derby will be the last at Spurs’ home before White Hart Lane closes its doors for the last time next month as their new stadium begins to take shape. Supporters would give an arm and a leg to sign off with a win against Arsenal in the final derby at their iconic stadium and there is genuine case to claim that they are heavy favourites to do so. 

While the Gunners’ results have improved in recent weeks, their form on the road has left little to the imagination. Indeed, Arsenal have lost five of their last seven away competitive games, with their only victories in that run coming against Sutton United and Middlesbrough. Yet, having secured their place in the final of the FA Cup, confidence will be lifted coming into this clash. 

Wenger’s decision to switch to a three-man defensive system has certainly had the desired effect, with the club winning their last three since the switch in setup. While it’s been far from perfect, the solidification at the back has been clear for all to see. It will be put to the test against a rampant Spurs side on Sunday, though. Tottenham have won their last 12 home Premier League games and have dropped points just twice at White Hart Lane this term, to Liverpool and Leicester. 

With Pochettino also potentially lining up with a three-man defence at the weekend, it promises to be an intriguing tactical affair at White Hart Lane. The switch in setup has undoubtedly brought out the best in Christian Eriksen more than anyone else. After a slow start to the season, the Dane has been in flying form in recent weeks and months, netting four goals and adding a further 12 assists in his last 12 competitive outings for Tottenham. 

The switch in system grants Eriksen further attacking freedom and while his goal against Crystal Palace in midweek only came about after he was dropped deeper in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the three-man backline allows the 25-year-old to express himself creatively rather than concern himself with too much defensive responsibility, safe in the knowledge he has the hard working pair of Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama behind him to protect the defence. That isn’t to say he shirks these responsibilities, with Eriksen averaging a respectable 1.3 tackles per league game this season, but rather he utilises his energy more to find space between the lines in the final third to help hurt opponents. 

It’s having a positive effect for both he and Spurs, with Eriksen playing more key passes (97) than any other Premier League player this season to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.50. He’s enjoying the kind of season that Arsenal fans wish Mesut Ozil was having. The German, after storming the assist charts with 19 to his name last season, is enduring a disappointing campaign for the Gunners with just seven goals and six assists to his name, a modest return for a player of his calibre. 

Ozil was acquired by Arsenal in the same summer as Eriksen and while the former started stronger, the latter is in much better form coming into the North London Derby. It’s ensured that no team is on a current longer winning run than Tottenham (8) in Europe’s top five leagues this season. His excellent showings increase the importance of visiting midfield duo Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey, who are set to start in the middle of the park once more. A failure to keep Eriksen in check, however, could well cement a shift in power across the north London divide as Spurs seek all the spoils at White Hart Lane.