Tottenham v Arsenal: Who has the edge at each position? Position by position breakdown of the NLD

FILE PHOTO - (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 609115656 and 602278616) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) and Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London. ***LEFT IMAGE*** NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on September 20, 2016 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur shrugs his shoulders during the UEFA Champions League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Wembley Stadium on November 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Jan Vertonghen v Laurent Koscielny

This battle of centre backs is a lot closer than the battle between Dier and Mustafi. There isn’t much to separate the two right sided centre backs.

Koscielny is having a bit of a renaissance this season for the Gunners. He struggled at times last year, but the arrival of Mustafi seems to have turned back the clock on his age. Now he’s playing like perhaps the best centre back in all of England.

Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen hasn’t been to shabby either. He clearly plays better with Alderweireld in the lineup, but he’s done his best to take on more of a leadership role in his countryman’s absence. Vertonghen hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been pretty good.

Unfortunately for Spurs, pretty good isn’t enough to win them this matchup. Koscielny is playing as well as he has in his career at the moment. That gives Arsenal another edge in the back four.

Advantage: Arsenal

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