Attack
Two strikers bang in form and too good to leave out, the combination of Olivier Giroud and Roberto Soldado heavily influenced the decision to line up in a 4-4-2. Soldado has been one of the most lethal finishers in La Liga for a number of years, regularly scoring between 25 and 30 for Valencia, and looking like keeping up that clinical form in the Premier League, with two goals in his first two games, albeit both from the penalty spot. Giroud as well has started the season in great form with three goals in four games in all competitions, continuing the form that he found midway through last season as he settled into English football.
Walcott and Podolski could make a claim for playing upfront, but don’t tend to do so often for Arsenal, so they fail to find a spot in the front two either, while Spurs duo Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor can hardly be considered contenders after their inconsistent form in front of goal last season, with just 16 Premier League goals between them.
So Tottenham edge out Arsenal with six players to five, and would arguably dominate even more in a different formation, or with their potential new signings that could be just around the corner. As good as these players look together, they will be competing against each other this weekend in what promises to be one of the most exciting and evenly-matched meetings between these two sides for years.
