Arsenal was still on a relentless win streak across all competitions.
They were the only team across Europe's top five leagues to maintain a perfect record this season.
Pochettino simply couldn't make sense of it.
"This Arsenal team… It's like they're aliens. Their strength is terrifying enough—but what's even crazier is that they haven't had a single injury all season!"
"We're out of options. We have to go all in. This season, we've already been nailed to the pillar of shame. Six goals at White Hart Lane... That's the worst defeat in North London Derby history!"
His expression was dark and heavy.
He forced himself to stay calm as he addressed Spurs' coaching staff.
Though really, it felt more like pressure than a meeting.
One of the assistant coaches stood nearby, worry written all over his face.
"Should we consider starting those two guys again?"
"They performed pretty well in the recent training matches."
Pochettino hesitated.
"Against this version of Arsenal, if we just sit back and defend, we're finished."
"Kai is a monster. The more you try to turtle up, the more excited he gets!"
"Any tiny gap in the back line will be punished. If Arsenal get even one or two chances and score a goal or two, the match is basically over."
"With Kai leading the team, Arsenal in a winning position is the stuff of nightmares!"
"They don't know how to slow down. If they score two, they'll chase a third. If they get three, they'll go for four—and they won't stop until the scoreboard says five or six!"
Pochettino took a deep breath.
"For this match, we go all-out attack! The only way to beat this Arsenal is to fight them as equals in an open battle!"
He turned to his assistant coach.
"Get Son in peak condition over the next few days!"
"For the League Cup against Arsenal, I want him and Bale to fly down the flanks again!"
As the winter transfer window approached…
Some of Spurs' players were already drawing attention from Europe's elite.
Rumors swirled: Real Madrid wanted to swoop in and take both Bale and Modrić from White Hart Lane next summer.
Over the last half-season, Bale had firmly secured his starting position.
To unleash the Welshman's full potential, Pochettino had completely converted him from a left-back into an attacking winger.
But that change created a new problem:
The left side of the defense, once guarded by Bale, now had a gaping hole.
His replacement, backup full-back Maeson, lacked experience and defensive awareness.
As an Argentine manager, Pochettino had studied the tactical philosophies of another famed countryman—Marcelo Bielsa, "El Loco" himself.
He'd envisioned transforming Bale into a two-way powerhouse, capable of both attacking and defending up and down the entire flank.
But Bale wasn't Kai.
Not every player could pull off that kind of all-around dominance.
So, Pochettino made a bold decision.
He'd abandon the full-back experiment—Bale would play strictly as a winger or wide midfielder.
And rather than risk another shaky full-back in defense,
Pochettino scrapped the four-back system entirely, switching Spurs to a three-center-back formation.
It was a drastic tactical overhaul.
But he had no choice.
To beat Arsenal—and save his own job—
Pochettino needed to tear down and rebuild Spurs from the inside out.
From formation to playing style, everything had to be reshaped to maximize his star players' strengths.
Bale on the left. Son on the right. Harry Kane leading the line as the lone striker.
Pochettino made the call. This would be his last stand.
That very night, word spread like wildfire across the Spurs fanbase.
Their club was preparing to go all in against Arsenal.
Spurs fans were stunned.
"Attacking football against Arsenal?! Has Pochettino gone insane?!"
"Arsenal are the one team you absolutely don't go toe-to-toe with! Kai is top of the Premier League scoring charts—he just broke the single-season goal record not long ago. Trying to trade blows with that team? Are we asking to die?!"
"He's starting Son again? The same Korean guy who got kicked to tears by Kai earlier this season?"
The Spurs fanbase was filled with anxiety.
But it was too late to turn back now.
The clash with Arsenal was right around the corner.
All they could do was grit their teeth and pray Pochettino's last-minute tactics worked.
November 28th.
The final matchday of the month had arrived.
League Cup Quarterfinals!
But this wasn't just any knockout match—
It was the North London Derby.
And in the pre-match draw, Arsenal had won home advantage.
~~----------------------
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