Honestly, this is the question that needs answering before we can try and guess our squad and approach for tomorrow's game. Does Tottenham fall into the category of a big team?
I think after the famous big four ceased to exist some ten years ago, the definition of a big team became blurred. Today only two teams in the PL look a cut above the rest: City and Chelsea. United was number 3 not long ago, but, seeing as they wobble through their second consecutive campaign it's really hard to call them a big team. In my view, a big team should be consistently challenging for the title. United are fighting for Champions League places at the moment, those who say otherwise are either short-sighted, United fans, or both.
Liverpool look to be a one-off. They had an uncharacteristically good last season (due to Suarez's brilliance, I suspect) and now they sit 6th or 7th in the table, about where they should be based on the last decade or so. Much like United, few would call this current Liverpool side "big".
Which leaves only two teams unturned: us and Tottenham. As much as it pains me to admit it, we also can hardly be called a big team. At the moment (and this has actually been the case for the last ten years), we are behind Chelsea and City. We have inferior squad to both these outfits and, while there were a couple of occasions during that last decade when we've challenged for the title, it will mostly go down in history as a consistent scrap for Champions League places. We have definitely showed signs of improvement last season by topping the table for 2/3 of the campaign and our current form suggests that with one or two summer additions we should be challenging again next season, for now, though, we are not particularly likely to win the title. I don't exclude it, stranger things have happened, but still.
And Tottenham. No, I don't think they can be called a big team based on the above criteria. Having a few good players doesn't make them Chelsea-esque and so calling them a big team will be a mistake. They don't, and haven't for a long time, challenge for the title. Full stop.
However, there is another matter to take into consideration: even if Tottenham can't be called a big team, tomorrow's game is a derby and derbies screw with the odds. They have very special atmosphere and rules of logic rarely apply to the results. You can go the whole season undefeated and then lose in a derby and no one will bat an eyelid, however good you've performed up to this point.The chips are down when a derby kicks off.
Based on that, and also the last year's derby experience, I won't be surprised should we stick to a cautious approach tomorrow. In other words, I expect us to deliver something along the lines of City's game, only to a lesser extent, because Eriksen and Kane aren't nearly as scary as Silva and Aguero. So this is how I think we should shape for the game.
The back five
If you told me six weeks ago that Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal would become regular starters, I would have, at the very least, snorted at such an assumption. Now, however, I sincerely hope all three will start and I see no reason why they shouldn't. All three have, with their respective performances, shown the place belongs to them and so Chambers, Gibbs and Szczesny found themselves benched.
Do they have an edge over the current Hispanic trio? The only edge I can think of is experience (in case with Chambers) and a better understanding of a derby atmosphere (Szczesny and Gibbs). But I don't think these are convincing enough reasons to omit Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal. If our Spaniards can do it at the Etihad, they can do it anywhere. All three are in brilliant form, so all three should keep their places. As should Mert and Kos. Moving on.
The midfield
The good old "Don't fix what isn't broken" adage should apply here exactly like it applies to our defense. Coquelin, Ramsey and Cazorla are firing on all cylinders and, what's important here, they form a really sound defensive unit. Bearing in mind we are likely to sit back most of the game, such a trio in midfield provides the team with a good shielding ability, while having the capacity to quickly explode and become deadly on the counter. The continued absence of Arteta and Wilshere (the Englishman will resume full training next week and I expect him to be involved against Boro) also robs us of options, leaving Flamini and Rosicky as the only other alternatives to Coq and Ramsey respectively. Flamini is, frankly, unconvincing, while Rosicky may be needed elsewhere, so sticking to the same trio should do the trick. And no, I don't consider swapping Cazorla for someone else, the Spaniard is ridiculously good at operating behind the striker and that's where he must play. At least while his form lasts.
The attack
The main question is whether Alexis will be involved and if he will, then to what extent. Arsene, during his presser today, said the following:
"The latest is that Alexis is not ready. He is not far away, the Leicester game is a possibility. He is of course very difficult to keep quiet! He is training but it's light training. He wants to have a go [on Friday], but I think he is too short [of fitness]."
It's good to know Sanchez is willing to play and, if he's ready, I think he should make the bench, but if he's not (and it very much looks to be the case), he should be given extra time to recover. We have a lot of offensive players available (no pun intended), even without Alexis and Oxlade, so no point risking the former for a short-term gain, especially since there are important games coming up. Besides, Welbeck is back in the group to give us another option.
Assuming Alexis won't make it, we still have an interesting dilemma of who to field either side of Giroud. I'm sure the Frenchman will start, but playing both Ozil and Walcott can be detrimental to our defensive set-up, if we choose to utilise one. As such, I'd prefer to introduce Rosicky for Ozil, as Walcott can be devastating on the counter, something that'll play to our strengths. Rosicky, meanwhile, can compensate for Theo's defensive shortages in his usual manner: by harassing and tackling and pressing and intercepting and forcing mistakes and whatnot. That being said, I badly want to see Mesut on the pitch and so I secretly hope we go all guns-blazing and take the game to Spurs, which will allow Ozil to shine.
The verdict
We definitely have enough to beat Spurs. Our goalkeeper is yet to concede a PL goal, our defense is so solid Wenger openly admitted he is reluctant to introduce any changes, our midfield is rocked by Coquelin and Cazorla and our attack looks scary even without the Ox and Alexis (which was unthinkable up until December). If we show up with the right attitude, we have more than enough quality to beat Tottenham.
So come on you Gunners.
And I'll be back here with a review on Sunday. Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin). And subscribe to all updates via email using the form on the right-hand side
P.S. Coquelin and Akpom have signed new long-term deals, confirmed by Arsene during the press conference. Now Bellerin is the only youngster left
I think after the famous big four ceased to exist some ten years ago, the definition of a big team became blurred. Today only two teams in the PL look a cut above the rest: City and Chelsea. United was number 3 not long ago, but, seeing as they wobble through their second consecutive campaign it's really hard to call them a big team. In my view, a big team should be consistently challenging for the title. United are fighting for Champions League places at the moment, those who say otherwise are either short-sighted, United fans, or both.
Liverpool look to be a one-off. They had an uncharacteristically good last season (due to Suarez's brilliance, I suspect) and now they sit 6th or 7th in the table, about where they should be based on the last decade or so. Much like United, few would call this current Liverpool side "big".
Which leaves only two teams unturned: us and Tottenham. As much as it pains me to admit it, we also can hardly be called a big team. At the moment (and this has actually been the case for the last ten years), we are behind Chelsea and City. We have inferior squad to both these outfits and, while there were a couple of occasions during that last decade when we've challenged for the title, it will mostly go down in history as a consistent scrap for Champions League places. We have definitely showed signs of improvement last season by topping the table for 2/3 of the campaign and our current form suggests that with one or two summer additions we should be challenging again next season, for now, though, we are not particularly likely to win the title. I don't exclude it, stranger things have happened, but still.
And Tottenham. No, I don't think they can be called a big team based on the above criteria. Having a few good players doesn't make them Chelsea-esque and so calling them a big team will be a mistake. They don't, and haven't for a long time, challenge for the title. Full stop.
However, there is another matter to take into consideration: even if Tottenham can't be called a big team, tomorrow's game is a derby and derbies screw with the odds. They have very special atmosphere and rules of logic rarely apply to the results. You can go the whole season undefeated and then lose in a derby and no one will bat an eyelid, however good you've performed up to this point.The chips are down when a derby kicks off.
Based on that, and also the last year's derby experience, I won't be surprised should we stick to a cautious approach tomorrow. In other words, I expect us to deliver something along the lines of City's game, only to a lesser extent, because Eriksen and Kane aren't nearly as scary as Silva and Aguero. So this is how I think we should shape for the game.
The back five
If you told me six weeks ago that Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal would become regular starters, I would have, at the very least, snorted at such an assumption. Now, however, I sincerely hope all three will start and I see no reason why they shouldn't. All three have, with their respective performances, shown the place belongs to them and so Chambers, Gibbs and Szczesny found themselves benched.
Do they have an edge over the current Hispanic trio? The only edge I can think of is experience (in case with Chambers) and a better understanding of a derby atmosphere (Szczesny and Gibbs). But I don't think these are convincing enough reasons to omit Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal. If our Spaniards can do it at the Etihad, they can do it anywhere. All three are in brilliant form, so all three should keep their places. As should Mert and Kos. Moving on.
The midfield
The good old "Don't fix what isn't broken" adage should apply here exactly like it applies to our defense. Coquelin, Ramsey and Cazorla are firing on all cylinders and, what's important here, they form a really sound defensive unit. Bearing in mind we are likely to sit back most of the game, such a trio in midfield provides the team with a good shielding ability, while having the capacity to quickly explode and become deadly on the counter. The continued absence of Arteta and Wilshere (the Englishman will resume full training next week and I expect him to be involved against Boro) also robs us of options, leaving Flamini and Rosicky as the only other alternatives to Coq and Ramsey respectively. Flamini is, frankly, unconvincing, while Rosicky may be needed elsewhere, so sticking to the same trio should do the trick. And no, I don't consider swapping Cazorla for someone else, the Spaniard is ridiculously good at operating behind the striker and that's where he must play. At least while his form lasts.
The attack
The main question is whether Alexis will be involved and if he will, then to what extent. Arsene, during his presser today, said the following:
"The latest is that Alexis is not ready. He is not far away, the Leicester game is a possibility. He is of course very difficult to keep quiet! He is training but it's light training. He wants to have a go [on Friday], but I think he is too short [of fitness]."
It's good to know Sanchez is willing to play and, if he's ready, I think he should make the bench, but if he's not (and it very much looks to be the case), he should be given extra time to recover. We have a lot of offensive players available (no pun intended), even without Alexis and Oxlade, so no point risking the former for a short-term gain, especially since there are important games coming up. Besides, Welbeck is back in the group to give us another option.
Assuming Alexis won't make it, we still have an interesting dilemma of who to field either side of Giroud. I'm sure the Frenchman will start, but playing both Ozil and Walcott can be detrimental to our defensive set-up, if we choose to utilise one. As such, I'd prefer to introduce Rosicky for Ozil, as Walcott can be devastating on the counter, something that'll play to our strengths. Rosicky, meanwhile, can compensate for Theo's defensive shortages in his usual manner: by harassing and tackling and pressing and intercepting and forcing mistakes and whatnot. That being said, I badly want to see Mesut on the pitch and so I secretly hope we go all guns-blazing and take the game to Spurs, which will allow Ozil to shine.
The verdict
We definitely have enough to beat Spurs. Our goalkeeper is yet to concede a PL goal, our defense is so solid Wenger openly admitted he is reluctant to introduce any changes, our midfield is rocked by Coquelin and Cazorla and our attack looks scary even without the Ox and Alexis (which was unthinkable up until December). If we show up with the right attitude, we have more than enough quality to beat Tottenham.
So come on you Gunners.
And I'll be back here with a review on Sunday. Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin). And subscribe to all updates via email using the form on the right-hand side
P.S. Coquelin and Akpom have signed new long-term deals, confirmed by Arsene during the press conference. Now Bellerin is the only youngster left