Ange Postecoglou has boldly declared that Tottenham aims to instill fear in Arsenal during Sunday’s north London derby. He firmly believes that his unique approach, distinct from Mikel Arteta’s, can finally secure Tottenham’s first Premier League victory at Arsenal since 2010.
When reflecting on their differences, Postecoglou used a vivid analogy, comparing adopting another manager’s attacking philosophy to attempting to replicate a Picasso masterpiece. He shared his admiration for Arteta’s dedication to the game during their shared experience at Manchester City’s affiliate club, Yokohama Marinos. Postecoglou fondly recalled his time observing training sessions under Pep Guardiola, where he witnessed Arteta’s passion for football firsthand.
Despite their shared background, Postecoglou pointed out the differences between them. With 26 years of managerial experience compared to Arteta’s five, they stand at different stages in their careers. Additionally, their managerial journeys have taken them to various countries. In a lighthearted note, Postecoglou humorously mentioned Arteta’s impressive head of hair and superior fitness level, highlighting their contrasting physical attributes.
Ultimately, Postecoglou emphasized that while they may not be polar opposites, they are undeniably distinct, especially in their tactical approaches. Both managers embrace attacking philosophies, but the nuances of their styles showcase the rich diversity that makes football such a beautiful and ever-evolving sport.
It’s why you can’t copy. If you’re an artist and you see a Picasso, yeah, you can copy it, but it’s not going to be a Picasso, is it? It’s the same with football.’
Further quotes emerged on Friday from the midweek Tottenham fan forum in which Postecoglou was asked whether he will approach games differently against better sides.
In a warning to Arteta’s Arsenal, he said: ‘In terms of the way we play, we’re not changing, mate. We’ll go out and scare the life out of them.’
Expanding on that on Friday, he added: ‘If we shy away from it, don’t play our football, manage to get a draw and survive the experience, what have we really learned? Apart from surviving 90 minutes of football? Nothing. We’re going to go out and play our football.