Tottenham Hotspur must give Aaron Lennon a chance to expose Manchester City

Aaron Lennon

With 10 points from a possible 15, Tottenham Hotspur currently enjoy the league’s second-best away record behind league leaders Arsenal. With that uppermost in mind, Andre Villas-Boas’ players will enter their fixture with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium with a good measure of confidence that they can pull off an upset.

As far as which players are selected to start this game are concerned, the injury toChristian Eriksen, though not as bad as first feared, still leaves the Portuguese manager with some decisions to make. Does he simply slot Lewis Holtby or Gylfi Sigurdsson into the No.10 role? Or does he scrap that role and the 4-2-3-1 formation altogether until the Dane returns and go two up front, thus giving the in-form Jermain Defoe a deserved start? Decisions, decisions.

Whatever he decides, it would be wise for him to factor in the size of City’s pitch and ensure that he uses it to the fullest extent possible. The Citizens have the league’s biggest pitch, which should appeal to Spurs. Why should it? Midfielder Mousa Dembele enlightens us: “We know that some teams are going to come [to White Hart Lane] and make a block, and we don’t have a big pitch so it’s even more difficult,” he told the Evening Standard last month. “A small pitch makes it harder. If we have more space, it’s easier for us…”

Of the teams in the top 10, Spurs are the only side to score an average of less than one goal per game at home. The Belgian blames that on the fact that the pitch is too small to open up the visiting opposition, especially when they become compact in defence. Admittedly, they have the same goal-per-game average away from home, but at the Etihad they will be afforded a lot of space, which they can use to spread the ball around in search of openings in City’s defence. Wingers, in particular, will be very useful for Spurs, making Aaron Lennon on the right a must-start for this fixture.

He has struggled with injury this season, but his excellent pace and tricky feet as well as his final ball, which has improved in recent seasons, could prove an outlet that yields goals away to City, or at the very least, decent chances to score them. Andros Townsend has started the season very brightly on that right-hand side, but given he likes to cut in, which is only natural given he is left-footed, he wouldn’t exploit the full length of the huge Etihad pitch as much as Lennon, who is naturally right-footed.

Aaron Lennon Average Duels Won 2012/13

The 26-year-old averaged 2.8 attempted take-ons per game last season, completing 45% of them, indicating that City’s left-back will have his hands full as Lennon seeks to push to the byline. But then Lennon has to ensure that his deliveries are spot on after beating his man. Going high to the far post with his crosses wouldn’t be a wise idea, as Spurs have been poor in the air so far this season, winning only 44% of their headed duels. Only Fulham (43%) and Norwich City (42%) have fared worse in this area.

Roberto Soldado Average Duels Won 2013/14

Standing at only 1.79 metres, striker Roberto Soldado is no match for City’s centre-backs, certainly not for their new No.1 ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon , who stands at an incredible height of 2.03 metres. The Spaniard is extremely poor in the air, which is to be expected given his height in comparison to that of defenders typically. He won just 28% of his headed duels at Valencia last season and a measly 16% at Spurs so far this term. That said, Lennon would be wasting his time aiming for Soldado’s head at the Etihad.

The striker scored all but four of his 24 league goals last season with his feet. In order for Lennon to find him with his crosses, he would have to aim low and hard at the near post. Not only would Soldado benefit from this, but the likes of Paulinho, who loves making runs into goal-scoring positions from midfield, would also benefit. Cut-backs to the edge of the box would also present opportunities for long range shots. Soldado, who likes to drop deep, as well as the midfielders, who like shooting from distance, will relish these.

Breaking down City at the Etihad certainly won’t be easy, as they have won all five of their home games to date and conceded just two goals in the process, but if Villas-Boas starts Lennon on the right and the England winger’s final balls are spot on, causing an upset or even leaving with a point won’t be out of Spurs’ reach.