Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs will face Arsenal this Sunday afternoon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the highly anticipated first North London derby of the season. The Lilywhites headed into the international break following a 2-1 loss against Newcastle United. Arsenal likewise saw their flawless start come to an end in a controversial 1-1 stalemate with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Match Details
Match: Tottenham Hotspur FC vs Arsenal FC EPL fixture
Date & Time: Sun, Sep 15, 2024 14:00 BST
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London
Weather: 67.7° and Overcast with a 0% chance of rain. The wind direction will be WSW at 6.7mph.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Preview
Tottenham delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Everton, shaking off the dirt of their earlier gameweek one performance, where their inability to capitalize on opportunities led to a disappointing draw against Leicester City. Yet, Spurs continue to show a concerning lack of ruthlessness, as evidenced by their recent performance against Newcastle. Tottenham is currently in 10th place, right in the middle of the table. They will also be looking to break a win-loss streak at home in the Premier League that has been going on since the beginning of April. There is probably no better time for Tottenham to play Arsenal than now.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta found themselves reflecting on the controversial decision surrounding Rice’s sending-off, especially in light of Joao Pedro’s earlier incident where he avoided a booking for kicking the ball away in the first half. However, Arteta’s new contract signing this week was wonderful news for the Gunners. Fans can also find comfort in the fact that their team secured back-to-back Premier League victories against Spurs in both 2023 and 2024. They have however never secured victory against Spurs in three consecutive away encounters during the Premier League era. As they approach the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they do so without what many consider their top midfield option.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Team News & Stats
The absence of Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, Tottenham’s two primary strikers, hindered the team’s offensive attempts against Newcastle. However, just Richarlison is expected to miss out, while Solanke should be available. After taking a serious knock during the international break, Yves Bissouma’s fitness gave the Lilywhites some concern. However, Postecoglou is crossing his fingers that Micky van de Ven’s knee injury will go away in time for the weekend.
Bissouma’s setback opens the door for Rodrigo Bentancur, who might face a lengthy ban from the FA due to comments he made regarding South Koreans. Son Heung-min will definitely aim to find the back of the net against Arsenal for the ninth time. Only three players in the storied history of the North London Derby have managed to score more.
Arsenal faces a significant midfield crisis as they struggle with the suspension of Declan Rice, the shoulder injury of Mikel Merino, and the sprained ankle of captain Martin Odegaard. With Odegaard sidelined, Arteta is expected to make tactical adjustments, potentially shifting Havertz into a three-man midfield alongside Jorginho and Partey. If Gabriel Jesus is still injured, Leandro Trossard or Raheem Sterling could lead the line. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu will certainly miss out, and Riccardo Calafiori sustained a calf injury in an unusual incident through Ousmane Dembele while playing for Italy against France.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: H2H
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have faced each other 67 times since 1995. Spurs have won 15 of these matches and scored 88 goals in them, Arsenal have won 28 and scored 116 goals. The remaining 24 matches have ended in a draw.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Possible Starting XI
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario (GK), Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur, Maddison, Son, Solanke, Kulusevski
Arsenal: Raya (GK), White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Havertz, Partey, Jorginho, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Prediction
We predict Tottenham Hotspur will beat Arsenal 2-1. Merino, Rice, and Odegaard together in the middle of the pitch would have been ideal for Arteta in Sunday’s big derby. But the Gunners are now at risk of being outrun in the engine room, and Odegaard’s creativity in the final third will be missed. Arteta’s team can still exploit Spurs’ defensive weaknesses, but it’s unlikely Arsenal will win this time.
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