Arsenal host their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday at the Emirates in what could be a season-defining game for both sides.
Arsenal are currently enjoying a fine run of form, having been unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions. While Tottenham are still currently unbeaten in the league, they have drawn 5 out of 10 games, which is disappointing for a side that is hoping to challenge for the title. They are also coming off the back of a 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen, a result which has left them on the brink of exiting the Champions League.
Arsenal, who sit 2nd on the table tied on points with both Manchester City and Liverpool, will be hoping to double their lead over their bitter rivals, while Tottenham have a chance to eliminate the gap between the two teams if they can snatch a victory at the Emirates.
Team News and Tactics
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger said earlier in the week that Santi Cazorla, Kieran Gibbs, Nacho Monreal, Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin were all doubts for the game, although Bellerin and Walcott are expected to feature on Sunday.
Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey both started against Ludogorets in midweek, but it is unclear whether Arsene Wenger will move Alexis Sanchez — who has been in brilliant form — to the left wing in order to play Giroud up front.
Arsenal are playing at home and will be looking to attack a Tottenham side who will be without key defender Toby Alderweireld. As such, Wenger’s men are expected to put pressure on Tottenham’s defence from the get go. For this reason, it is very likely that Wenger will stick with his preferred line-up in the Premier League this season, with Alexis Sanchez starting up front.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Alexis
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Harry Kane would be in the squad for Sunday’s game, but was non-committal about whether the England international would start. Toby Alderweireld will definitely miss the derby though, which will be a big blow to Tottenham given Arsenal’s attacking potency.
Moussa Sissoko is suspended, while Erik Lamela misses out due to injury. A late test will be done on Mousa Dembele, who is struggling with a foot injury he picked up during the loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
Tottenham have drawn 5 out of their 10 Premier League games, but still sit only 3 points below Arsenal. However, they are playing away from home, so Pochettino could adopt a more cautious approach.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Alli, Wanyama; Eriksen, Son, N’Koudou; Janssen
Key Stats
- Arsenal are have not won their last four Premier League North London derbies (D3 L1) – they have never gone five derbies without a win against Tottenham in the league under Arsene Wenger.
- Mauricio Pochettino has not lost a single Premier League north London derby as manager. No Tottenham manager has ever managed to go unbeaten in their first five league games against Arsenal in top flight history.
- The team that has opened the scoring has failed to win this fixture on 23 occasions — the highest number in Premier League history (15 draws, eight defeats).
- Arsenal have scored at least once in 42 of their last 43 North London Derbies in all competitions.
- Tottenham have conceded the fewest goals this season, five, with only 10 sides in Premier League history conceding fewer goals with as many games played.
Player to watch
Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez has thrived as the main striker this season and is always industrious. His movement makes space for players, and his underrated vision and final ball will cause huge problems for Tottenham. In games of high intensity, Sanchez is always the most intense and it won’t be any different this weekend.
Prediction
Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham
Given Tottenham’s current struggles in front of goal and Arsenal’s brilliant form so far, Arsenal will probably just edge the derby. Tottenham have been quite good defensively and their high press will mean Arsenal’s fluid attacking play will be disrupted. This will mean that Arsenal will find it hard to find a way past Tottenham’s defence and it is unlikely to be a high-scoring game.