Premier League: The Epic North London Derby!

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

The highlight of this week’s packed Premier League schedule has to be the clash between title-chasing Arsenal and Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Not only are they fierce local rivals, since as we move to the business end of the season, they both have a whole lot to play for. And we have that beautiful high stakes situation where both teams can help themselves and at the same time wrecking their neighbours’ hopes.

Though Manchester City and Liverpool have games to play this week, Mikel Arteta’s league leaders will start the derby still at the summit of the table courtesy of a much better goal difference, helped in no little part by a 5-0 hammering of Chelsea on Tuesday night.

The latest Premier League 2024 betting odds pitch Arsenal as second favourites to the Sky Blues, but they have given themselves a great chance to snatch the title if the reigning champions slip up.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are in fifth place, six points behind Aston Villa. But with two games in hand, head coach Ange Postecoglou will be looking for a response after his team crumbled away to Newcastle United last time out.           

Talking Points

Rested Spurs have a point to prove

Tottenham have taken two weeks off since they were hammered 4-0 by Newcastle United, and in that time, Arsenal have played four times, so the Spurs can’t use the excuse that they may be jaded at this late stage in the season.

The question is whether or not they are fit to beat the Gunners, and I’m sure their likeable Aussie coach will ensure they are well prepared.

Ange Postecoglou has certainly brought the feel-good factor back to Tottenham, and before the shambles on Tyneside, his team had put together a decent set of Premier League 2024 results, including an impressive 4-0 win over Aston Villa.

However, they are also prone to “throw one in” as they did in a 3-0 loss to Fulham.    

The chief attacking threat comes from captain Heung-Min Son with 15 goals and nine assists, and with support from Timo Werner, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison, this is a team geared up for Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy.

But they will also need to find a way of nullifying Arsenal’s speedy and ingenious attack, and the loss of Destiny Udogie to injury means that centre-back Micky Van de Ven will be a key man in the Spurs defence against the quick Arsenal forward line.

He’s been recorded as the fastest player in the league after a lighting sprint was recorded in Tottenham’s recent win over Brentford. and his pace and positioning will be essential to match Saka and co.    

The Gunners are firing again  

Unlike Manchester City and Liverpool, Arsenal don’t have a striker in contention for the Premier League Golden Boot. But on Tuesday night, they showed once again why they have a much better goal difference than their rivals.

Bukayo Saka is the Gunners’ most productive player with 14 goals and nine assists. He didn’t score against Chelsea, but he assisted a goal for Kai Havertz as the German forward scored an eight-minute brace against his old team.

The in-form Leandro Trossard was on the scoresheet too, while there was an unlikely double from defender Ben White as Arsenal ripped the Blues to pieces.

Following damaging defeats to Aston Villa and then Bayern Munich, the hard-earned win away to Wolves and this goalfest was the perfect way for Arteta’s side to respond.

And they now have a much better goal difference than Manchester City (by 12 goals) and Liverpool (by 13).  

This match against Tottenham is Arsenal’s second big London Derby in a week after facing off against Chelsea on Tuesday night and, if they can pull of a similar result, their fans will be in dreamland.

History

When the two teams met at the Emirates back in September, the match ended in a 2-2 draw as Arsenal led twice, with Saka scoring the second, only to be pegged by goals from Son.

With three wins, one draw, and two defeats from the last six games, Arsenal have an identical form record as their hosts. But I think we can expect a result either way here as Spurs have won 12 and lost four at home in the league this season, and the hosts will certainly go for this one.

Betting Tip

Here at SBOTOP, the Gunners are priced at 1.91 to win this huge game, and somehow I can’t see Spurs recording a first home draw in this epic match.

I just have this feeling the pressure might build on Arsenal only two weeks after they stumbled against Villa. And fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will do all they can to unsettle their rivals.      

 

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