Pedro Porro holds the key for Tottenham as Martin Keown predicts Arsenal player to be axed
Pedro Porro could now hold the key to Tottenham overcoming Arsenal in Sunday’s (28 April) North London derby.
The full-back has been declared fit by Ange Postecoglou after coming through a week of training – a big boost considering Destiny Udogie is out.
Porro will look to start attacks from deep as ever, while he will also have his work cut out defensively, an aspect he has massively improved on.
Mikel Arteta has big Arsenal selection call to make
However, the Spaniard will not know exactly who he is directly up against down the Arsenal left until the teamsheet drops an hour before kick-off.
Leandro Trossard started in that position in the 5-0 win over Chelsea, but Martin Keown has suggested Mikel Arteta may make a change.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail [26 April], Keown said of Tottenham: “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.”
Porro only lasted 49 minutes before going off injured against Newcastle last time out, but he was given a tough time of things by Harvey Barnes as United cruised to victory.
The 24-year-old did not win any aerial duels – perhaps understandably – and misplaced three of his passes [Sofascore], one of which gifted a goal to Anthony Gordon.
Porro’s 82-per-cent pass-accuracy rate was the fifth-lowest of any Tottenham player on the day, while he also lost three of his eight duels as Newcastle got in behind at ease.
While that may have been a disappointing day for both Porro and Spurs, the defender has otherwise been superb this season and will undoubtedly start if fit – as appears to be the case.
Pedro Porro key to Tottenham’s top-four hopes
In an attacking sense, Porro’s 6.4 expected assists per 90 minutes are bettered only by Dejan Kulusevski (6.9) and Son Heung-min (8.7) among Spurs players [FBref].
Defensively, meanwhile, he averages 2.10 blocks per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top two per cent of all full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues in that category.
Given his potential battle with Martinelli, or indeed Trossard, Porro averages 2.79 tackles per 90, which sees him among the top 11 per cent among his peers.
Factor in his 84-per-cent pass accuracy rate across the season inside his own half [Sofascore], when trying to get the ball out from the back, and you can see why he is so important to Postecoglou.
Whether it is Martinelli or Trossard, Porro will have his work cut out. Indeed, Martinelli (1.74) and Trossard (1.45) rank second and third among all Arsenal players for dribbles per 90 minutes.
Whoever it may be on that flank for Arsenal, Porro has shown – the odd off-day aside – that he is capable of rising to the challenge. Let’s just hope for more of the same in this huge North London showdown.
In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy is to blame after Spurs missed out on a possible eight-figure payment.
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