Martin Keown urges Arteta to start out-of-favour Arsenal star vs Spurs | Football

The Gunners travel to their north London rivals on Sunday knowing they can take a four-point lead over Manchester City ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side facing Nottingham Forest later in the day.

Spurs have actually had two weeks off ahead of the derby and have not played since they were hammered 4-0 at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side went man-to-man against Tottenham, pressing aggressively and winning the ball high up the pitch, and ripped apart their high defensive line.

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon ran havoc and were played in on countless occasions, and Keown believes that same gameplan could be employed by Arteta on Sunday.

The key to it will be starting the pacey Martinelli, though he has fallen out of favour recently – with Leandro Trossard playing excellently – and the Brazilian has not started a Premier League match since March 4 against Sheffield United.

‘It is extremely unlikely that Tottenham will change their tactics for this one,’ wrote Keown in his column for the Daily Mail.

‘They are a team who prioritise attacking over defending, even when they go down to nine men!

‘Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy is to push players up the pitch and that inevitably leaves a high defensive line.

‘That was dismantled in Tottenham’s last game by Newcastle’s lightning-fast forwards and, with that in mind, Arteta may pick Gabriel Martinelli to make his first Premier League start in nearly two months.

‘His pace could be vital on the left alongside the speed of Bukayo Saka on the right, and they will be capable of latching on to Martin Odegaard’s balls in behind.’

Keown also believes Arsenal should take note of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby, in which Everton whipped up a hugely hostile atmosphere and dealt a hammer blow to Liverpool’s title hopes with a 2-0 victory that was built on physicality and aggression.

‘Mikel Arteta’s team cannot let themselves get caught up in the chaos like Liverpool did at Everton,’ Keown continued.

‘They have to stay calm, concentrate, trust their tactics, showcase their football, and, above all, win to keep distance between them and their competition.’

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