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The pick of the matches in the third round sees Arsenal welcome their bitter rivals to the Emirates
Generally these affairs are high octane adrenalin packed fierce contests but this game might be a bit cagier.
Though both the teams are coming to this match after confidence boosting wins, Arsenal perching back to the top after beating Cardiff and Tottenham claiming a much needed victory at Old Trafford, the list of injuries amassed by both set of squad will see a number of first teamers missing from both side.
The list of players missing this game could make a football team in itself.
Arsenal is coming into this match without Ozil, Ramsey, Bendtner, Gibbs, Chamberlain, Diaby & Sanogo
On the other hand, Tottenham will be without Sandro, Vertonghen, Defoe, Townsend, Kaboul, Paulinho & Siggurdson.
The fans from both sides would be praying that their respective strikers Giroud & Adebayor will clear the late fitness test and make it to this match.
Even though Giroud has not been firing on all cylinders recently, his build up play holds the Arsenal team like glue. Against Cardiff, time and again, the Arsenal midfielders were found to be hesitant when putting the ball in the penalty area. As Bendtner is also missing, the team lacks someone who can hold the ball and bring others into play.
On paper, there are options like Walcott and Podolski, both are lethal when cutting inside from a wide position but the role of a lone striker is a tough one. One has to have the stomach to fight for every single ball, get battered by opposing defenders. This role requires a body which can go on after endless abuses throughout 90 minutes and still come out on top.
Podolski has been found wanting in this role time and again and Walcott can only play this role if the opposition play a high line, and give him space to run into, which Tottenham will not do.
Tottenham is in a similar predicament, the story of their striking department is well documented.
Soldado has forgotten all his killer instincts after moving to England, and seemed to enjoy himself recently after all his goal scoring burden has been taken over by Adebayor, but then who wouldn’t.
The other option Nacer Chadli, is still to find his feet in the premier league, and it will be too much of a risk to start him at the Emirates.
Both the teams come into this match with a similar form: three wins, a draw & a loss in last five games.
This game will be another big test of Sherwood. Many eyes were raised when he was handed over the reins at White Hart Lane. He changed the mould of the team by switching to a 4-4-2 complimented by a deep defensive line. This simple tactical switch has made the Tottenham team more attacking and more difficult to beat at the same time. He has called back the out casted Adebayor and given him confidence and has been repaid by the former Arsenal man.
Fair play to him as these rudimentary changes has seen the Spurs surging back in form. Arsenal fans would definitely be dismayed that AVB will no longer be in the dugout.
On the other hand, Arsenal has seen their performance dip in the recent matches. The fluency of their game has been missing and they seem to be winning through sheer power and determination instead of their usual style and finesse. But the gunners won’t be complaining.
Both the managers will be aware of the tiredness in their squad after the recent festive excursions and would prefer to play it safe, but it’s a big game for the both set of fans and no one would like to start the New Year with a loss to their rivals.
The players would be under immense pressure to shed their last drop of blood and sweat to win this game. An early goal could see this game turn into a goal fest but the longer this game goes without a goal more difficult it will be for the tired legs to march forward and the chances of mistakes at the back will increase.
It’s been a while since these two teams met in this competition, with Arsenal taking the bragging rights with a 2-1 win in the semi-final clash of 2001.
This match might be a similar affair and Arsenal’s home advantage means that they should win this game.
Prediction: Arsenal 2- 1 Tottenham
