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Tottenham vs. Arsenal positional breakdown: Who has the edge?

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Referee Martin Atkinson shows a yellow card to Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Referee Martin Atkinson shows a yellow card to Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 02 : Olivier Giroud of Arsenal reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium on March 02, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 02 : Olivier Giroud of Arsenal reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium on March 02, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Harry Kane vs. Olivier Giroud

Arsenal fans are fond of complaining about their French striker, but he does lead them with 12 goals on the Premier League campaign. That irritation may be enough to cause Wenger to start Danny Welbeck up top, but I think he’ll want to go with the more experienced man instead.

Of course Tottenham fans are still in love with their front man Harry Kane, but there is an undercurrent of worry that he might be running out of gas. He had one of his worst matches of the season in the midweek loss at West Ham, and has gone a few games without scoring a goal. One good finish on Saturday could erase all of those concerns for the English talisman.

Giroud’s ability to effect the game comes down almost entirely to how much the Gunners possess the ball. If they are able to dwell on the ball in Spurs’ final third, he could be a handful for the Tottenham back four. If the ball ends up in the Arsenal half more often, he isn’t of much use at all.

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

In contrast, Kane is going to be a key player for Tottenham no matter who has the ball. His effects on the Spurs offense are obvious, but he’s also the key beginning of Pochettino’s high press system. He routinely harasses opposing goal keepers and centre backs when they dawdle on the ball.

Kane is the easy choice here. He’s the superior offensive player and is on a different planet than Giroud in regards to defense. Wenger could roll the dice and start Welbeck, but Kane still is the better player.

Advantage: Tottenham

Agree, disagree with any of my selections? Let me know in the comments field below!

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