Arsenal icon Alan Smith has instructed Mikel Arteta to target Tottenham duo Emerson Royal and Cristian Romero as he aims to claim victory in the North London Derby.
The Gunners host Spurs at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon with both sides aiming to finally kick their seasons into life following an indifferent start to the campaign.
Ahead of the game, Arsenal sit 13th in the Premier League table despite a summer outlay of £150million, while Spurs are seventh having suffered back-to-back 3-0 losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
With the clash being a derby, it would be fair to assume that current form could go out of the window but Gunners legend Smith may have already given Arteta a tactical advantage before kick-off by indicating which Spurs players Arsenal should be targeting – including two summer signings.
Talking to Sky Sports, the ex-striker said: “It’s going to be interesting to see Arsenal’s attack against Tottenham’s defence, given those creative players and if Arsenal can get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moving and making good runs and playing with confidence.
“Tottenham have got a couple of new boys in Emerson Royal and Cristian Romero and that might be an area that Arsenal can exploit, perhaps down the left flank.
“Just like Spurs, that’s the strength for Arsenal: the creative players they’ve got. They’ve got energy, ideas, real talent there.”
Romero arrived at Spurs on loan from Atalanta earlier this summer, whilst Emerson completed a deadline day move from Barcelona.
The two have not had the best starts to their careers in north London. Romero has appeared on five occasions but has only started once in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Emerson has been the victim of back-to-back 3-0 losses in the league thus far.
Source by Football London
