Three Reasons Why Arsenal Will Beat Tottenham In FA Cup

Three reasons on why Arsenal can beat Tottenham in the third round of FA Cup

The World’s most prestigious tournament might have lost its sheen in the last decade with the big teams looking to give their youngsters a go in the cup competitions to take the pressure away from the starting eleven albeit the excruciating Premier League action. However, when Tottenham travel to the Emirates to take on fierce cross city rivals, it will be surely a no holds barred affair and sparks will emanate from what is expected to be a feisty clash. Tottenham come into the game full of confidence after beating Manchester United at Old Trafford and defender Micheal Dawson has already claimed that Spurs will travel to the Emirates to scare the Gunners.

The 2005 FA Cup success was the last piece of silverware for Arsene Wenger’s side who are trophy less now for the last eight years. Wenger has already claimed that he will take the cup competitions very seriously and the third round derby clash against Spurs remains a bone of contention for either teams. Arsenal however have got the edge going into the game with full confidence, being top of the Premier League table and will be looking for yet another derby win against Tottenham. Here are the three ways we here at Soccersouls feel on how the Wenger’s goons can rub salt yet again on Tim Sherwood’s eleven.

1. Predictability against Uncertainty:

When a gale force hits an immovable object, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about who can stretch the other at the limit. Arsenal’s long list of injury concerns will keep Tim Sherwood’s men guessing till the starting eleven is announced. This will keep the away side tinkering about the much preferred 4-4-2 of Sherwood, which can be subjected to intense pressure at the back, evident from United’s repeated pressure at Old Trafford in the last twenty minutes. The defence held on but it only takes a split second to wilt. As per major tabloids, Arsenal are ready to unleash their latest bright, young star Gedion Zelalem, the 16-year-old midfield dubbed by many as the “next Cesc Fabregas,” against Sherwood’s men at the Emirates on Saturday. That’s when the unpredictability can hit a team hard on its face.

2. No fear, No pain, No loss:

The Gunners have a plethora of injury casualties going into the encounter with Olivier Giroud being the major doubt up front. Bendtner, who came on, opened the scoring and then limped off against Cardiff, too perhaps misses out. This means Wenger has to deploy Lukas Podolski as the recognized striker up front in his 4-2-3-1 tactical tweak. The Gunners go into the match with full of vitality, plenty of belief and high expectations to be on the right end of the scoreline. Football is all about belief and games are half won and lost on the mind. Surely Wenger cannot get yet another big match psyche wrong at this juncture.

3. Arsenal can’t lose at home:

It will be easy to say that the Gunners have made the Emirates as a fortress this Premier League campaign. They have lost just one game at Emirates this season (in league). Yes, Tim Sherwood’s appointment has rejuvenated Tottenham and their exuberance is evident but going to the Emirates and knocking Arsenal out will perhaps be asking or too much from their locker.   What more when you have the likes of Podolski, Cazorla and Wilshere all expected to start and take advantage of Tottenham’s sloppiness at the back.