Can goal-shy Spurs regain their rhythm in time for Arsenal clash?
Most Tottenham fans are expectedly dreading Sunday’s North London Derby. Spurs have failed to win their last six competitive fixtures, losing two, and last tasted victory in the 2-0 win over Manchester City at the beginning of October. The win was supposed to signal the club’s intention to fight for the title having hauled Mauricio Pochettino’s side into second ahead of the international break, just one point behind the title favourites. However, since then, Spurs have rapidly regressed.
International football seemed to have halted Spurs’ rhythm as they have netted just three goals in their last six fixtures, only one of which was from open play. It’s for that reason, then, that Harry Kane’s return to fitness comes at the opportune time for Pochettino’s team. The England international hasn’t featured since sustaining an ankle injury in the 1-0 win over Sunderland back in September, so his recovery is a boost to the team.
Indeed, only Gareth Bale (5) has scored more Premier League goals for Spurs against Arsenal than Kane (4), though the primary conundrum for Pochettino is to determine whether he will be fit to start or features from the bench. The Argentine boss hinted after the midweek 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen that a role as a substitute is more likely, which will likely see Vincent Janssen start for Spurs once more.
The Dutchman has so far struggled to hit the back of the net. His three goals against Gillingham, Liverpool and Leicester have all come from the penalty spot. Comparisons with Roberto Soldado were immediately drawn given their similar woes from open play. Janssen and Soldado - goals aside - couldn’t be more different in style, however. The latter relied heavily on early crosses into the box and one-touch finishes and often struggled with the physicality of the Premier League.
Janssen, meanwhile, at least attempts to make runs down the channels to hold off opponents and bring teammates into play, utilising his stature to shield possession. In that regard, if he can adapt to the pace and technique of the Premier League he has the potential to be the ideal striker to operate as the lone frontman, with his selflessness one of his better traits. Unfortunately for him and Spurs, however, his goalscoring problems have Spurs faltering. It’s now been 451 minutes since Dele Alli equalised against West Brom - Spurs’ last competitive from open play - with the players seemingly not on the same wavelength as Janssen.
The Dutchman has regularly been left isolated, perhaps in part due to the differing approach between he and Kane. While the latter is capable of holding off players, Kane’s immediate thought is to turn his opponent and drive for goal, with an average of four shots per league game since the start of last season proof of that. While it’s a method that works - he’s scored 27 league goals over the same period - Tottenham’s attacking players have become accustomed to Kane’s style.
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This, however, is having an adverse effect on Janssen, whose selflessness means he’s often forced to hold onto the ball for longer and by the time his teammates have worked themselves into a position to receive possession, opponents have enough numbers behind the ball to nullify the threat. Once those in support of Janssen adjust their game accordingly so his hold up play does not go to waste, then it’s feasible to suggest the 22-year-old could begin to live up to his hefty price tag. Janssen scored more goals (27) than any other player in the Eredivisie last season and it took until his eighth game to score his first league goal. Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal would be as good a place as any for the youngster to score his first from open play and Spurs’ first since the 1-1 draw with West Brom.
Against Arsenal, though, this will be easier said than done. The Gunners have conceded just 10 league goals this season and despite appearing shaky against Swansea and Ludogorets, Spurs’ woes in front of goal suggests they won’t pose too much of a threat to their title challenging North rivals. The central defensive partnership of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny is considered one of the best in the Premier League and with Spurs unable to call on Erik Lamela through injury and Christian Eriksen out of form, Arsenal could find it easier to shut Spurs out.
Kane’s return is a boost, of that there is no doubt, though it would be a tad rash of Pochettino to throw him straight back into first team action following such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. It only increases the pressure on Janssen to break his goalscoring duck from open play, though given Spurs have scored the fewest goals of all teams in the Premier League’s top six (14) it's a big ask for the players to instantly rediscover their scoring boots following a number of lackadaisical performances in front of goal.
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