Arsenal Vs Tottenham Hotspurs: North London Derby Match Preview (9/27)
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LONDON — This weekend sees the return of club football, and it promises to be a good one! Fans worldwide are sure to have their TV sets, phones, and anything else with a screen tuned to the Premier League as leaders Arsenal host third-place Tottenham Hotspurs at 7:30 AM EST in the North London Derby.
Arsenal fans will be confident of their team going into this fierce match. In their last 30 home games against Spurs, they have only lost once, which was back in November of 2010. Therefore, Arteta’s men will be going into this match with history on their side and momentum. They sit at the top of the Premier League with six wins and one loss, accumulating 18 points so far in the campaign.
Spurs are not far off, tied in second with Manchester City, having five wins and two draws, accumulating 17 points. The Lily-Whites have yet to lose a league game this season, apart from a 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. Arsenal has only played one Europa League game this season and managed a 2-1 win over FC Zurich.
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The last time these two rivals met was at the business end of last season. The game saw hosts Tottenham beat 10-men Arsenal 3-0. The game was pivotal in the race for the top four, and Tottenham’s win drew them closer to the Champions League. They finished fourth at the end of last season while Arsenal finished fifth.
There’s no doubt that Arsenal had improved since the previous two seasons, where they finished eighth in both seasons. However, the chance to participate in Europe’s most elite competition was beckoning, and the Gunners barely missed out. There is a sense of optimism and hope around the club, and rightly so.
Arsenal will need to field a strong team to win this match, and while many players will be key, the defense will be hugely important. French center-back William Saliba has been sensational for the Gunners, having shown solid defensive displays and even netting two goals. Gabriel has been an important figure in the Arsenal backline for a couple of seasons now, and having him paired with Saliba will be key.
In addition, fullbacks Kieren Tierney and Oleksander Zinchenko have been sensational this campaign and will be important in that left-back position. However, there’s no doubt that the starting right-back, whether it’s Englishman Ben White or Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu, will have their hands full with Heung-Min Son.
As for Spurs, their strong attack might be their way to victory against the Gunners. English striker Harry Kane loves scoring against Arsenal. The former Arsenal youth academy player has 13 goals against the Gunners. So if the Spurs score on Saturday, Kane’s name will surely be on that scoresheet. As mentioned, Korean forward Son will be another asset to the Spurs. His last game in the Premier League came as a substitute against Leicester City, which saw him net a sensational hat-trick. They were his first three goals this season, and there’s no doubt he’ll score more. Both attackers have amazing chemistry, and Antonio Conte will surely want them to be on top of their game come Saturday.
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Arteta and Conte will be thinking hard and long about their starting XI for this derby. While many reports suggest that the Arsenal squad is a bit thin due to injuries, fans believe that Arteta is bluffing to catch Spurs off guard. Thomas Partey and Tierney have both been called back early from international duty. While there has been no confirmation of injuries, fans feared that might be the case.
On the bright side, having the players back and training will relieve the Gunners. Martin Odegaard and Oleksander Zinchenko are said to be fully fit and available for selection for this derby. Unfortunately, Emile Smith Rowe will not be able to play for 2-3 months following successful surgery on his groin tendon. The English midfielder has begun his rehabilitation process and will likely be in the stands to support his fellow teammates.
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Spurs might have some trouble on their hands with some key injuries. First, French keeper Hugo Lloris was brought off in his last game for France. He will be checked on Friday and assessed, but he remains doubtful for the match. Should he miss out, Fraser Forster will likely make his debut against the Gunners. Another doubt that may hurt the Whites is winger Dejan Kulusevski.
The Swedish winger was signed last winter from Italian side Juventus and has been a top player for Spurs. He played for Sweden during the international break, but his return to London did not bode well. The player complained about having issues with his hamstring. Thankfully, Spurs may have a solution to his absence, with former Evertonian Richarilson available for selection. Defensively, Tottenham may be without Christian Romero, Davinson Sanchez, or Ben Davies for selection.
Predictions see Arsenal getting the three points against their bitter rivals, given the injuries, momentum, and history. The Emirates will surely be filled to the brim for this dramatic fixture. Betting odds see Arsenal winning 2-1. Kick-off will be at 7:30 EST and be the first match of the Premier League weekend following the last international break before the World Cup in Qatar in November. It’s a massive crunch time in Europe, with some teams playing as many as 15 games in under 50 days.