The development of young players is ever-fetishized in the modern game, especially in England where focusing on the next generation has become a relentless obsession, but we often forget young managers need time and experience to grow as well.

When Mauricio Pochettino first arrived in England, he was a staunch idealist; his Southampton and early Spurs sides rarely veered far from 4-2-3-1 and the fundamental belief that ball retention coupled with high pressing was the only acceptable route to victory.

But fast forward to 2017/18 and few Premier League managers have shown the same tactical variety as the Argentine this season. Tottenham’s three biggest results of the campaign thus far - heavy wins over Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and European champions Real Madrid - were all expert counter-attacking displays that saw Pochettino’s side take less than 40% possession.

Just to show how significant the shift has been, Spurs averaged 57.4% of the ball in the top flight last term. Likewise, while they averaged just 2.3 counter attacking goals in the Premier League during the last three seasons, they’ve already scored two this term with 27 games left to go.

And much of that is due to Pochettino slowly adding to his armoury of formations. While 3-4-3 became a common ploy of the Tottenham gaffer during the second half of last season, he’s lined up his sides in six different systems already this term ranging from 4-2-3-1 to 5-3-2 - formations with completely polarised emphases and strategies behind them. Accordingly, the percentage of games using a back four has plummeted from 90% during his first three campaigns in north London to just 29% this season.

The results of that new-found variety speak for themselves, particularly in Europe where Tottenham’s sudden focus on counter-attacking has proved the most effective. Tottenham may be only four games into their continental campaign but a return of three wins in the Champions League Group Stages represents a drastic improvement from previous seasons, and one that should not be underestimated considering the quality of opposition they’ve faced.

But for Pochettino to truly move into world football’s managerial elite, the territory that would transform him from a possible candidate to the standout option for the Real Madrid job he’s continuously linked with, two key aspects are missing from the 45-year-old’s CV. Long-term, silverware - Pochettino is yet to win a trophy throughout his career and he’s reached only one cup final - but that can’t be truly addressed until the end of the season. More immediately, especially with the north London derby on the horizon, positive results away from home against his closest rivals.

Indeed, Tottenham averaged just 0.7 points per game upon their away visits to the big six during Pochettino’s first three seasons, and their only chance to redeem that miserly return so far this year ended in a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford. In that time, Pochettino has masterminded just one victory away victory against the big six from 16 attempts - rather concerning considering the big six haven’t always finished up as the top six during that period. If Spurs are to ever win the title under Pochettino, and if he’s to ever successfully undertake a job of Real Madrid’s magnitude, away results against divisional rivals simply must improve.

Fortuitously though, this Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium provides the best chance to do so that Pochettino will have this season. Despite the old adage of form, standings and even ability being largely insignificant when it comes to local derbies, Arsenal are still comfortably the weakest members of the big six, who haven’t actually beaten Spurs in the Premier League under Pochettino’s guidance.

Likewise their 3-4-3 system remains a mere imitation of Tottenham’s; one that still relies on square pegs in round holes and lacks the defensive discipline that has made Spurs the new dominant force in north London. If it’s a matter of matching up, even without home advantage, Tottenham should come out on top.

And yet, it can’t simply be a case of Tottenham turning up at the Emirates Stadium and putting in an improved performance compared to their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United last month; the sheer longevity of the trend suggests there are systematic and psychological issues that see Spurs fall short in these games, weaknesses that their rivals all find ways to eventually expose.

As much as Pochettino may demand more from his players, he must find solutions as well - whether that’s a question of changing formations or mindsets, or getting involved in mind-games with his managerial counter-parts in the build-up.

But holistically speaking, that’s pretty much the last part of the riddle Pochettino must solve. He’s already shown he can win home games against high-quality opposition, while his ability to improve young players, provide entertaining football and forge a true team rather than simply a collection of talented individuals has been without doubt for some time.

Coming away from the tough away days with positive results will not only take Tottenham closer towards the title and other silverware, but also Pochettino towards the Real Madrid job the media believe he’s destined for.

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