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Can Mauricio Pochettino And Tottenham Conquer The Derby This Time?

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A super Sunday is upon us as north London giants and eternal bitter rivals Arsenal and Tottenham prepare to do battle at the Emirates. Both teams ended in top 3 last season, with Wenger’s men overtaking Pochettino’s on matchday 38 to pip them to 2nd with just a point.

This term, both has started strongly. Arsenal have lost just a game till date, while Tottenham remains undefeated, though that hasn’t reflected on their position – with 5 draws out of 10 Premier League games condemning them to 5th position – 3 points away from the 2nd placed Arsenal.

Apart from the bragging rights that comes with winning the storied Derby, it’s both teams’ chance to claim a bright spot on the log as we approach the 1st half of the season. Arsenal can hold on to their joint-top position, while Tottenham can return to winning ways and grab a top 4 spot with a victory at the Emirates.

Since his arrival 2 seasons, Pochettino has turned Spurs to the team to beat, and his army of youngsters remains 1 of the best squads in the country. This season, the Argentine masterminded Pep Guardiola’s 1st ever Premier League defeat, blowing Manchester City away in a 2-nil drubbing.

And though the team hasn’t been able to build up on that brilliant form to win their smaller battles, they still look capable of putting up such brilliant performance against a big side.

Since his appointment in charge of the White Hart Lane outfit, Mauricio Pochettino has overseen Arsenal’s defeat once, and shared the spoils thrice, including on his last 2 visits to the Emirates. Will he finally get the better of Wenger away from home on Sunday?

Arsenal’s form this season in the league has almost been 100% perfect if excluding their season opener loss against Liverpool, and the draws to Leicester City and Middlesbrough the only exceptions.

A 3-nil shellacking of Chelsea remains 1 of their best performances thus far and considering how they have gone 15 games without a loss across all competitions only further highlights how brilliant they have been.

Securing a win at home against such a side as Tottenham will further leave a great impression on other title challengers, and strengthen their own title credentials as well. If there is a game Wenger and his charges wants to win so badly this season, it’s Sunday’s derby.

However, putting Tottenham’s away form into consideration, it’s an uphill task to surmount. In Spur’s last 23 away games, they won 11, drew 10 and only lost 2. Pochettino’s record on the road is impressive as they come, and Arsenal will do a lot if they are to put a blemish and dent on it.

The 2 sides have a record of making comebacks whenever they clash. In the last 23 derbies, the team that opens the scoring has failed to win the game, losing 8 times and drawing 15 others.

Both teams have built on their respective strengths this season. Arsenal have a solid attacking line, and have put 23 goals at the back of the net already – just 1 less of Liverpool and City.

At the other end of the pitch, Tottenham boast of the toughest defence, shipping in just 5 goals in 10 games. The game will test these strengths, and it’s definitely going to be a cracker.

Much has been said of the tactical brilliance of Pochettino, and how he fares in perhaps his biggest test of the season thus far will say a lot of his abilities.

Can the Argentine put Arsenal to the sword?