Playing for 90
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 12
Next
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: David Ospina of Arsenal celebrates his team’s second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: David Ospina of Arsenal celebrates his team’s second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /

Hugo Lloris vs. David Ospina

There might not be a man under more pressure leading up to Saturday’s match than Arsenal goal keeper David Ospina. The Colombian keeper will make his first Premier League appearance for the Gunners all season in relief of the injured Petr Cech.

Opposite him in-goal for the home side is Spurs captain Hugo Lloris. The French international has been stellar for Tottenham all season long. His shot stopping ability in concert with his quickness off the line gives his defense a great deal of confidence to take a high line against their opponents.

The loss of Cech is huge for the Gunners in this one. He gives their back four an air of confidence that Ospina simply can’t replicate. It will be interesting to see if manager Arsene Wenger adjusts his tactics at all to lessen the pressure on Ospina. No matter what, he’ll be under a huge spotlight in Arsenal’s biggest match of the season.

It’s pretty clear that the edge in this match-up has to go to Tottenham. They get to start their captain and leader in-goal, while Arsenal are forced to go with their back-up. It’s not that David Ospina can’t have a brilliant day in-goal, he’s just more likely to have a nightmare than Lloris.

Advantage: Tottenham

Next: Left back

Home/Arsenal FC