Arsenal vs Tottenham Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Arsenal are trying to march themselves towards a first league title in over 20 years as the Gunners now take on North London Derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Peacock
Arsenal preview: Difficult to play against
Arsenal remain at the top-of-the-table but they conceded 40% of the goals they have conceded in the Premier League this season in their most recent outing as they were pegged back late on to a 2-2 draw against high-flying Sunderland on Wearside.
Mikel Arteta has an extremely strong squad with a lot of options in the final third, which is helpful for a generally functional side that aren’t necessarily reliant on set-pieces, but do tend to produce their most threatening moments from those situations.
Tottenham preview: Frustrating for Frank
Despite how woeful Tottenham Hotspur were in the Premier League last season, Spurs supporters have shown frustration at Ange Postecoglou’s replacement, Thomas Frank, as they begin the weekend sitting fifth in the Premier League table.
That position does perhaps flatter them, though, with performances pragmatic and underwhelming throughout the campaign. They were denied three points last time out due to a late Matthijs de Ligt goal in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Arsenal team news: Plenty of doubts
Having sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Brazil against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium, key centre-back Gabriel is now expected to be out for a few weeks and there are doubts over Riccardo Calafiori after he withdrew for Italy over the international break.
There is a chance that captain Martin Odegaard could return this weekend, alongside Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres but Mikel Arteta gave no updates on those in his pre-match press conference.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Merino, Trossard
Unavailable: Gabriel (Injured), Havertz (Injured), Jesus (Injured)
Questionable: Calafiori (Injured), Odegaard (Fitness), Martinelli (Injured), Madueke (Injured), Gyokeres (Injured)
Tottenham team news: Plenty to discuss
Thomas Frank has confirmed that Sweden international midfielder Lucas Bergvall is fit and available alongside Senegal international midfielder Pape Matar Sarr and France international striker Randal Kolo Muani.
The visitors are dealing with plenty of injury absentees, though, as Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke return to full fitness with Mohammed Kudus among those that have returned to training and are building their fitness back up.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Bergvall, Tel; Richarlison
Unavailable: Dragusin (Fitness), Bissouma (Injured), Kulusevski (Injured), Maddison (Injured), Solanke (Injured)
Questionable: Takai (Fitness), Davies (Fitness), Gray (Fitness), Kudus (Fitness)
Arsenal vs Tottenham prediction
The positives for Tottenham fans to take as they head to the Emirates this weekend would be that their performances, as well as results, have been impressive on the road this season, and they have already shown they can beat a top team, such as Manchester City, away from home with Frank’s pragmatism. That said, this is an Arsenal side that are unlikely to offer too much space even in transition and a low-scoring home win remains the likeliest outcome for the first North London Derby of the season.
Arsenal vs Tottenham tip: Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
