THE BIG MATCH

Arsenal v Tottenham

Who can master the tactical switch?

Arsenal have played with a 4-2-3-1 since the start of the season, with two defensive midfielders protecting the back four.

However, in the away game against Crystal Palace they changed to a back three. Manager Unai Emery said this was “30 per cent because of the opposition” and 70 per cent because of the players available, particularly the absence of

Nacho Monreal and Stephan Lichtsteiner through injury.

It could be used again for the derby.

Arsene Wenger originally switched to a back three to help stop Arsenal conceding so many goals away from home. Mostly it worked, but Emery’s 4-2-3-1 seems to have addressed some of the problems that Wenger encountered – namely, the full-backs, Hector Bellerin (below) and Sead Kolasinac, spending entire games in the opposition half, leaving the centre-backs exposed. Arsenal can switch things up now, just as Spurs do, with Eric Dier swapping between centre-back and defensive midfield. There was a subtle shape change in Spurs’ win over Chelsea, with Pochettino using a 4-3-2-1 that had Harry Kane dropping into the 10 space alongside Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli. With Son Heung-min providing the counterattacking threat further forward, Kane could draw defenders out and attack from deeper, helping to outnumber Jorginho in front of Chelsea’s defence.