Mauricio Pochettino Previews Tottenham vs Arsenal

By Alexander Balano | Nov 5, 2016

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Mauricio Pochettino the head coach / manager of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at The Hawthorns on October 15, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Adam Fradgley - AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images) /

A day before Tottenham take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino conducted his final pre-match press conference with reporters.

Even though Spurs’ form has floundered in recent weeks, despite remaining unbeaten in the Premier League, Pochettino knows his side will be up to the task of challenging Arsenal and looking for a win.

“It’s true it’s different to play against Arsenal because it’s the derby, like Espanyol v Barcelona or Newell’s Old Boys v Rosario Central, all special games,” Mauricio Pochettino said (via Spurs’ official website).

“We always feel the passion about football. We’re excited, we’re always excited. We were excited to play against [Bayer] Leverkusen in the Champions League and now we’re excited to play against Arsenal. We know the game means different things for our fans and all people who love Tottenham.”

“It would be fantastic to win on Sunday, for us and for all the fans who love Tottenham.”

Helping Spurs get a chance to pull off a win tomorrow will be the return of Harry Kane.

Mauricio Pochettino has said he is available for selection yesterday, though he has yet to decide if the 23-year-old will be starting the match or coming off of the bench.

Either way, Kane’s return is a big boost for a Tottenham team who has only scored three goals in six matches, and none from open play in their last five.

Except, Pochettino doesn’t see his side’s lack of goals as something that Harry Kane alone can fix by himself — which is true.

Instead, the Argentine manager is looking at his team’s build-up play from the back that could be affecting their chances in the final third.

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“After [beating Manchester] City we were the best [team] and now we are the worst – it’s always about balance,” the 44-year-old said (via the Evening Standard).

“Yes, we have some problems to create chances or be clinical in front of goal or to show more consistency. But maybe the problem is not in front. Maybe it’s because we are not building in a very good way from the back and the ball arrives in the last third in different condition.”

Whatever the actual reason is, for why Spurs’ recent form has also affected their ability to score goals, Harry Kane being named in the 18-man matchday squad can help alleviate their problems.

Just having the English striker on the pitch will force defenses to account for Kane’s penchant to score goals. He will be marked, double or triple marked, giving Spurs’ other attacking players more opportunities to take a chance and score.

As for Spurs’ central midfield. It’s possible Victor Wanyama plays by himself, but maybe Harry Winks is given his first Premier League start in his career.

Due to Mousa Dembélé’s injury, he’s been given the status of being doubtful for Sunday but will be assessed regardless. While it would be a risky move to start the 20-year-old Winks at the Emirates Stadium, this something that Mauricio Pochettino has done before.

Two years ago, Ryan Mason earned his first Premier League start when Dembélé was (coincidentally) injured.

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“Maybe, maybe yes,” Pochettino said about Winks’ chances of playing tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium.

“We need to assess Dembélé first of all to decide but Harry is doing very well, not only against Leverkusen but Liverpool in the EFL Cup and before.

“It was the same with Mousa before that game [in 2014] when he was also a doubt. I remember and I decided to play with Mason.”