Paul Merson spot on as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was destroyed in Tottenham v Arsenal
Ange Postecoglou has been left with egg on his face after Paul Merson questioned Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s involvement as Tottenham lost 3-2 to Arsenal on Sunday (28 April).
Considering the Gunners’ attacking threat through the middle of Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, many expected to see at least one of Yves Bissouma or Pape Matar Sarr in the starting XI at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (28 April).
However, Postecoglou opted for the more experienced head of Hojbjerg but the selection misfired completely as the midfielder scored an own goal to open the scoring for Arsenal, who led 3-0 at the break.
Ahead of kick-off via Sky Sports on Sunday (28 April, 1:44pm), Merson shared his worries about the 28-year-old’s involvement: “Bissouma is a lot quicker of a player. Once you get away from Hojbjerg, you’re away. With Bissouma or Sarr, they get around, but this lad will want to play – he thinks he’s a player.
“His natural actions should be to hook onto him [Odegaard] but I think he falls asleep before the end of the game and I think Odegaard will absolutely destroy him.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg selection backfires in Tottenham v Arsenal
Spurs got off to a terrible start as Hojbjerg directed a header into the back of his own net before Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz piled on the misery to make it 3-0 ahead of the half-time break.
Despite maintaining an 86 per cent pass completion, and 11 of those into the final third, the midfielder’s defensive shortfalls were highlighted as Odegaard made him look silly. [FotMob]
Hojbjerg won just 33 per cent of his tackles during the match, showing just how right Merson was about how players can escape the Spurs man with ease.
He also won just 62 per cent of his ground duels and 33 per cent of his aerial duels, both of which suggest that Postecoglou should have started Sarr or Bissouma in his place.
Looking back to the reverse leg in September, the aforementioned duo were picked to form the midfield partnership against the Gunners, a match that ended 2-2 rather than a 3-2 loss.
In that match, the latter completed 90 minutes while winning 50 per cent of his tackles, 67 per cent of his ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels. [FotMob]
Considering these statistics, it is a wonder why Postecoglou chose to switch up the midfield for the second North London derby of the season.
In other Tottenham news, Postecoglou cannot ignore one Under-18 sensation after what he did on Saturday.
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