v/s
Tottenham Hotspur
Emirates Stadium, London
8th November 2015, 16:00 GMT
***
One of the fiercest rivalries in English football is back, as London gets draped in red and white for Sunday’s North London derby. Arsenal FC welcome Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates with a long injury list and a crushing midweek defeat, whilst the visitors arrive on a 10-game unbeaten run and victory in the Europa league.
With Chelsea FC faltering this season and looking unable to turn things around, and with the recent upheaval at Liverpool FC, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have a real chance of pushing for a Champions League spot, and Sunday’s game could be the perfect chance to make a statement against a wounded Arsenal FC.
Team Tactics and Line-ups
Arsenal FC
Arsene Wengera s troubles have doubled as he loses more players one by one due to injury. However, fans cannot deny the fact that his starting eleven is yet very strong and capable of beating any team if they play well. Although Ospina returns from his injury, Petr Cech will be the chosen shot-stopper. Having conceded just 8 goals this season in the Premier League, Cech will look to equal David Jamesa clean sheet record in this game.
The defensive line will include Per Mertesacker at centre-back, along with Laurent Koscielny, who returns to replace Brazilian Gabriel Paulista. With Bellerin injured, former Newcastle full-back Mathieu Debuchy will be the chosem player on the right and Nacho Monreal will continue at left-back. The Arsenal FC back four — Koscielny aside — which recently received a thrashing from Bayern Munich, will look to regain their confidence facing their local rivals in front of the home fans.
Francis Coquelin has been an exceptional influence to the team defensively. Playing alongside the skilful Cazorla, Coquelin will look to keep the likes of Eriksen and Dembele quiet whilst providing enough cover to the two full backs who will run up to provide crosses.
Ozil has been fantastic with his through balls and assists and will look to ensure Giroud or Sanchez are on the score sheet as he plays in his favoured number 10 role. On either side of the five man Arsenal FC midfield will be Alexis Sanchez on the left and Joel Campbell on the right. Frenchman Giroud will complete the starting eleven.
Predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1): Cech, ; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla, Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino would like to make it eleven games in the Premier League undefeated and the icing on the cake would be the fact that he did that with a win against Arsenal FC. With a defensive record just one goal shy of their London rivals, Pochettino will look to take advantage of the injury marred Gunners and out-score them.
With Danny Rose recovering just in time, Pochettino will field a back four of Kyle Walker at right-back, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen as the central defensive pairing, while Danny Rose will return to the left-back position.
Hugo Lloris as always will captain the side from his position in goal. Much of the Spurs defence will rely on Walker, who will need to keep a tab on the dangerous Chilean Alexis Sanchez. With a reputation of pushing forward more than a regular full-back, Pochettino must instruct Walker to shadow Sanchez if they wish not to concede.
Eric Dier will once again feature in the defensive midfield role, a position he has relished in the recent games. Providing enough cover to the back four, Dier has been key to Tottenhama s excellent defensive record. With the task of marking Ozil, Dier must ensure no through balls and slick passes are made to Olivier Giroud as well as wingers Sanchez and Campbell, who will look to make diagonal runs into the box.
Playing alongside him will be the sensational Dele Alli. The young Englishman has grown leaps and bounds this season — his first in the Premier League — and will look to get his name on the score-sheet against Tottenhama s fiercest rivals.
Although Son Heung-min has recovered and Clinton Na jie is also most likely to return, the duo will find themselves on the bench for this game as Lamela, Dembele and Eriksen will be the chosen trio to play behind Harry Kane and lead the attack. Kane has scored five goals in his last 3 games in all competitions and would love add to his tally for this season, especially against the Gunners. Dembele has been a stellar performer since his return from injury, and will be a key play-maker as he fights to keep his place in the starting eleven with Son returning from injury.
Predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Alli, Lamela, Dembele, Eriksen; Kane
Match Facts
- Tottenham are the only unbeaten Premier League team since the opening week
- Arsenal FC have the joint lowest goals conceded (8) in the Premier League
- Tottenham have won only once at Arsenal FC in the last 25 games in all competitions
- In the last 5 Premier League meetings between the two sides, Spurs have won 2, lost 2, and drawn 1
Player to Watch
Moussa Dembele
The Belgian initially found it very hard to break into the starting eleven with the likes of Alli, Dier and Mason higher up the pecking order for the central midfield position. Played in an uncomfortable right wing role, Dembele soon was ruled out with an injury.
However, since his return, the central midfielder has put in sterling performances whether in the number ten role or a deeper defensive role in the absence of Dier. The playmaker has scored two in the last two games and is no doubt a starter against Tottenhama s biggest rivals this Sunday. Fans can to expect to see some good football and if luck permits, a goal from the in-form Belgian.
Prediction
Arsenal FC 2-2 Tottenham
Although Arsenal FC are tending to their long list of wounded, they yet have quite a strong starting eleven. Tottenham on the other hand have conceded only one more goal than their local rivals. With Kane slowly easing into his scoring form and the likes of Ozil and Sanchez on the other side, an action packed two-goal draw can be expected.
Blast from the past
