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Arsenal vs Tottenham : Five Things to Watch For

By Vijay Vemu

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur and the rest of Tottenham players walk off dejected after the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at Boleyn Ground on March 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur and the rest of Tottenham players walk off dejected after the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at Boleyn Ground on March 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Danny Rose (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Eric Dier after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane in London, on February 28, 2016.Tottenham won the game 2-1. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Danny Rose (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Eric Dier after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane in London, on February 28, 2016.Tottenham won the game 2-1. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) /

1. Can Tottenham control the midfield?

If there was a way for Spurs to completely control the game, it has to be in the midfield. If they can take control of the middle of the park they can get a stranglehold on the game from the start.

Arsenal was dealt a big blow in their midfield this week when it was announced that Santi Carzola would be out for the rest of the season. Carzola, who was recovering from an Achilles injury, suffered a setback in recovery and now is out for the rest of the season.

It was a big blow to Arsenal as they were looking back to Carzola’s return as he did so much for Arsenal in the midfield. The Spaniard controlled things in the midfield and helped transition Arsenal from defense to offense in seconds. Now they will have to play on the rest of the season without him.

Meanwhile Spurs have a great duo in the midfield as youngsters Deli Alli and Eric Dier team up in the middle of the park. Alli is more of an attacking player who can strike the ball with some venom. He has earned a call up to England’s National Team and looks to be a bright spot in Spurs future in terms of attack. Meanwhile Dier has done a nice job sitting right front of the defense playing in a more of a holding midfielder role. Both have their own separate roles and have played it well.

Related Story: 10 reasons Tottenham can win the Premier League title

With Carzola out for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil seems to be the only attacking player for the Gunners in the midfield and if he gets shut down by the Spurs defense, it will be a very tough go for the Gunners in the North London Derby.

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