Ian Wight believes a tactical aspect which Marcelo Bielsa used against Arsenal last month could decide this weekend’s north London derby.
Leeds United dominated Arsenal’s midfield and were unlucky to come away from their Premier League game on 22 November with a 0-0 draw after striking the woodwork three times.
The hosts had 67% possession in the encounter at Elland Road as Bielsa’s man-marking and heavy pressing system overwhelmed the Gunners.
Former Arsenal striker Wright believes that if Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho follows the Argentine manager’s lead then it could prove decisive in the derby on Sunday afternoon.
“You’ve got (Ndombele) who can run with the ball, Bergwijn, Son – Kane can drop off. What are we going to do to contain somebody who can run with the ball? Are we going to (play) Elneny? Is it Elneny? Elneny should hold,” he said on the Wrighty’s House podcast.
“It will be (Dani) Ceballos and (Granit) Xhaka. When you look at what Bielsa did to them, when he put (Mateusz) Klich on them to push them even further back.
“If Tottenham do anything like that, they’re going to have all that space.”
Klich, Stuart Dallas and Kalvin Phillips were exceptional against Arsenal, comprehensively winning the midfield battle against Ceballos and Xhaka.
It meant that Arsenal struggled to keep hold of the ball, or get out of their half as Leeds pinned them in and created chances.
Premier League leaders Spurs may well have studied the game and have the players to carry out a similar game plan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.
Mourinho’s side are unbeaten since the opening day of the league season and will fancy their chances against Arsenal, who are struggling with just one win in their last six league matches.
Leeds, meanwhile, face a tough test in London themselves, travelling to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.
Frank Lampard’s side are unbeaten in their last 12 games across all competitions and sit third in the league table, two points behind Spurs and Liverpool.
