Premier League 2018-19: 3 key battles that could decide the Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur derby

It's always a feisty affair when Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns. Irrespective of the points table, this rivalry - popularly called the North London derby - always delivers thrills and spills.

The Gunners have a better record, but the Spurs have given a good account of themselves in recent times.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have been criticized quite often this season because of their performances. It is believed that the Spurs have not been at their fluent best and have been made to grind out results instead. On top of that, the confusion surrounding White Hart Lane has also affected their performances somewhat.

However, last week against Chelsea, Tottenham came up with one of the best performances of the season, ending the Blues' unbeaten run in the process.

On the other hand, Arsenal under Unai Emery are in the transition phase, but they have still performed beyond expectations. They are currently on a streak of 11 consecutive games unbeaten in the league, with a chance to make it 12 in a row against the Spurs this weekend.

Both of Arsenal's strikers are in exceptional form, with Mesut Ozil providing the much-needed creativity in the midfield. The defense is still a worry for the manager, but they are more than capable of covering up for that with goals at the other end.

So often in the big games, it is the mini battles that decide the course of the game. With both sides having quality players in their ranks, here are three contests which could determine the outcome of the match.

#3 Aubameyang/Lacazette vs Alderweireld/Vertonghen

Lacazette and Aubameyang have formed a formidable partnership up front.

Gabonese international Aubameyang is the joint top scorer in the league along with Sergio Aguero. His pace and finishing are at par with the best strikers in the world.

However, Lacazette is coming off an injury, and is still expected to be thrown straight into the first team.

Before the international break, both Aubameyang and Lacazette tore defenses apart with their one-touch play and superb finishing. They are one of the deadliest strike partnerships in the Premier League at the moment.

Mauricio Pochettino would have his two reliable warriors, Alderweireld and Vertonghen, to negate the threat that the Arsenal center forwards possess. The Belgian defensive pair are regarded as one of the best in the world, but would have to prove their worth once more against the free-flowing Arsenal side.

#2 Lucas Torreira vs Christian Eriksen

Torreira has been widely praised for his performances

Lucas Torreira has been one of the best signings of the season so far for Arsenal. He has made the midfield position his own, and looks set to hold on to it for some time.

The Gunners lacked a solid defensive midfielder for a number of years, and Torreira seems to have sold that problem.

Despite his small stature, Torreira is a dynamite on the pitch and has bucketloads of stamina. Unai Emery would want his midfield powerhouse to stop one of the most creative midfielders in the Premier League, the Danish maestro Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen is at the heart of everything that the Spurs create from the midfield. The position he plays in a midfield of three suits him well, where he can find the likes of Dele Alli, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane at ease.

Against Chelsea, Eriksen was at his destructive best, repeatedly finding gaps in the Chelsea defense with his intricate passing. The vulnerability in Arsenal's back four means Torreira would have to be the one to stop Eriksen from wreaking havoc against the Gunners.

#1 Mustafi/Holding vs Harry Kane/Dele Alli

In the previous game against Bournemouth, Unai Emery played a three-person defense with Sokratis in the center of the trio. However, he might revert to a back four as he did against Liverpool earlier in the season.

The Gunners' defensive problems have been prevalent since the days of Arsene Wenger. Despite buying some players in that position, the defense is still vulnerable against quality attacks. Emery has tried using the formula of playing from the back, which has sometimes resulted in the team's downfall.

Against the Spurs, the likes of Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi need to produce their absolute best. They would be up against Dele Alli and Harry Kane, who can disrupt the defensive shape of any opposition. The game against Chelsea was a testament to what these two can do when on song.

Kane has a knack of scoring against Arsenal, which would be a concern for Emery. He is a goal poacher and can score even from half chances.

If Emery wants a taste of victory in his first North London derby, then he needs his defense to be at its best.