Fans will want defensive Spurs to attack Arsenal, says Redknapp
ByReuters
Published 04/12/2020 at 15:12 GMT
With Tottenham flying high and topping the Premier League table and Arsenal struggling and languishing in 14th, Jamie Redknapp want to see his former side go for the jugular against Mikel Arteta's side, rather than adopt the pragmatic, defensive approach that brought them four points from their games against Manchester City and Chelsea.
Television presenter, working for Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp smiles ahead of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on September 20, 2020
Image credit: Getty Images
Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur must resist the temptation to adopt a pragmatic style of play and attack struggling Arsenal on Sunday as their fans will demand it, former player and pundit Jamie Redknapp has said.
Jose Mourinho's Spurs have the best defensive record in the league and moved to the top of the standings with a counter-attacking strategy against top teams such as Manchester City while high-scoring Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw.
However, Redknapp believes those tactics will not fly against Arsenal in what is usually a fiery derby, especially with 2,000 fans set to return to the stadium for the first time amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Jose has got them working very hard for each other defensively ... They're sitting ever so deep, they're organised," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"If it was a full house they'd demand them to go forward ... they want to see good football, they've been used to it over the years.
"If Harry Kane and Heung-min Son want to play and have a go, it doesn't matter what the manager says... I think they will have a go at this Arsenal team because of how they're struggling themselves."
Son and Kane have scored 16 league goals between them - six more than 14th-placed Arsenal have managed in 10 games so far under Mikel Arteta.
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Redknapp said Spurs could struggle to challenge for the title if either of the two forwards were to be injured.
"But if they maintain their fitness and Kane keeps the form up, that team is extremely dangerous as long as those two are fit and able to play. Otherwise, playing that way without having those two would become incredibly difficult," he said.
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