Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 27.
Team analysis: Tottenham Hotspur
Why Spurs turned to Tudor
Providing a ‘new-manager bounce’ is Igor Tudor’s trademark.
Hired mid-season in seven of his last eight roles, the 47-year-old has proven to be a master at fulfilling short-term objectives.
Taking over at Juventus last March when they were floundering, Tudor lost just one of the last nine Serie A games to claim a fourth-place finish which secured UEFA Champions League qualification.
In the 2023/24 campaign, he replaced Maurizio Sarri at Lazio, who were ninth in the table. He won five of the remaining nine fixtures as they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
Earlier on in his managerial career, the Croatian twice saved Udinese from relegation during two brief spells after joining late on in successive campaigns.
So, firefighting seems to be Tudor’s speciality.
With 12 games left, his mission is to steer 16th-placed Spurs away from the relegation zone by making the same kind of instant impact.
Tudor's record in first 10 matches at each club
| Team | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hajduk Split (2013) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| PAOK | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Karabukspor | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Galatasaray | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Udinese* (2018/19) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Hajduk Split (2020) | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Verona | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Marseille | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Lazio | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Juventus | 6 | 3 | 1 |
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*Results combined across two separate spells
How Spurs could look under Tudor
Spurs' new head coach for the rest of this season prefers a back three.
Across his last three roles, with Juventus, Lazio and Marseille, he used it in 95 per cent of games, with 3-4-2-1 his go-to shape.
Tudor's most-used formations in last three seasons
| Formation | Times used |
|---|---|
| 3-4-2-1 | 55 |
| 3-4-3 | 3 |
| 3-5-2 | 3 |
| 4-2-3-1 | 1 |
| 4-3-3 | 1 |
| 4-2-2 | 1 |
The Croatian has claimed, “style is more important than the system”, but providing he has the right players at his disposal, Tudor is almost certain to set Spurs up in a 3-4-2-1.
Stylistically, Spurs will also look very different, no matter what shape he uses.
Out of possession, Tudor demands an incredibly hostile and non-negotiable man-to-man press.
For a side who have forced just 20 shot-ending high turnovers this season (the second lowest tally) it will be a major gear shift.
On the ball, they will also be more fluid in terms of positional rotation.
Tudor asks his wide centre backs to overlap, underlap and invert into central midfield, with midfielders regularly moving wide.
Spurs' wing-backs may be instructed to push into the twin No 10 roles on occasion too.
A starting 3-4-2-1 could easily morph into a 2-3-2-3 when they have the ball.
How injury-hit Spurs could look v Arsenal
Spurs' formation in possession
Spurs' formation out of possession
How have Spurs performed with a back three?
During his short tenure, former head coach Thomas Frank deployed a three-man rearguard in just five of his 38 matches.
It was considered a success when they took Paris Saint-Germain to penalties in the UEFA Sup Cup final using a 5-3-2, and a 3-4-3 worked well in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League success at Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, in the three Premier League matches where Frank started with a 3-4-2-1 it was largely disastrous.
Trailing 3-0 away to Arsenal, the Dane switched to a back four at half-time in a 4-1 derby loss.
They were trailing 2-1 at Burnley in the same formation, but clawed back a point after taking a central defender off with 12 minutes remaining.
And Spurs were outplayed by Manchester City when last using the system, trailing 2-0 before a change of shape at the interval laid the platform for a thrilling 2-2 comeback draw.
Arsenal's record against teams that play three at the back
| Statistics | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 23 |
| Wins | 18 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Scored | 49 |
| Conceded | 16 |
| Clean sheets | 11 |
Interestingly, it is now 23 matches since Mikel Arteta’s side lost to opponents starting with three central defenders.
A 1-0 home defeat to West Ham United in February 2025 was the last time the Gunners were beaten by a team playing in that shape.
In Premier League terms they are now 15 unbeaten against such opponents.
Who will thrive under Tudor?
The buccaneering Micky van de Ven should love playing for Tudor.
The flying Dutchman loves to carry the ball forward at speed, so he will relish being encouraged to show adventure.
Spurs players with the most progressive ball carries in 25/26
| Player | Total (in metres) |
|---|---|
| Djed Spence | 1729.6 |
| Micky van de Ven | 1589.2 |
| Xavi Simons | 1476.3 |
Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke, both coming into good form of late, also seem well suited to Tudor’s tactical demands.
Winning possession back inside the final third on a team-high 18 occasions this season, Simons is an enthusiastic presser.
Nobody in the Premier League has won possession inside the final third more often, so his closing down will be admired by the new boss.
Most possession won in final third in 25/26 PL season
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
| Xavi Simons | 18 |
| Bukayo Saka | 18 |
| John McGinn | 17 |
| Antoine Semenyo | 17 |
Solanke is also a hard-working striker who will need no encouragement to hassle defenders.
His hold-up play will be appreciated by Tudor, who is happy for his team to play direct passes from back to front.
Arteta’s impressive north London derby record
Mikel Arteta will be confident that Arsenal can bounce back from their Wolverhampton Wanderers disappointment against their neighbours.
The Spaniard is unbeaten in his last seven north London derbies, and beaten all five Spurs head coaches he has faced.
Arteta's record v Spurs managers
| Head coach | Matches | W | D | L |
| Thomas Frank | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ange Postecoglou | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Antonio Conte | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Nuno Espirito Santo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jose Mourinho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Jose Mourinho is the only one he has an inferior record against.
New-look Spurs could provide a tougher test for Arsenal
After dropping crucial points at Molineux, the pressure is mounting for the leaders.
Tudor’s intense approach, with a heavy focus on imposing his teams’ will on the opposition, means Arsenal face a stiff test.
They will hope to play through Spurs’ new pressing style, and expose any gaps left by their defenders bursting forward, but questions are also sure to be asked of them inside their own half.
Tudor’s courageous tactics, and the fresh energy he brings, will certainly make this a tougher examination than it might have been.