The football world always has exciting rivalries, and the North London Derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal is one of them. Fans love this fierce competition, which has been going on for over a hundred years, showing the passion and pride of English football.
The rivalry started in 1913 when Arsenal left South for North London, stepping into Tottenham’s area. This created tension and competition that still exists today. On Tuesday, Arsenal had a historic 5-0 victory over their renowned London rivals, Chelsea, humiliating the Blues and their fans at the Emirates. Come Sunday, Arteta’s men will be looking forward to another Derby win against the Spurs to revive their title hopes.
Team Analysis
Tottenham Hotspur, currently trailing Arsenal in the Premier League standings, will host their North London rivals at home, aiming to shake up Arsenal’s title bid. In their previous encounter, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, setting the stage for another battle for bragging rights and pride. Let’s analyze each team’s stand and the possible impact of injuries in the fixture.
Tottenham
After a disappointing season last time, Tottenham Hotspur started the 2023/24 Premier League season well and seemed like they could compete for the title. But, they couldn’t keep up the good form. They’ve been up and down in the rankings and are now just hanging around. However, getting maximum points in their next matches on the road could earn them entry into the Champions League. They’re currently outside the top four by only six points with two games to play, after all.
Like all Premier League teams last summer, Spurs lost their top scorer Harry Kane to Bayern München. They also saw other players leave and brought in new ones, including their new head coach, Ange Postecoglou.
Before the big match against Arsenal, and with few injured players, Postecoglou has some important decisions to make about his team. Someone has to replace Destiny Udogie, who won’t play again this season due to an injury. Ben Davies might step in, as he usually plays as a left-back. Alternatively, Emerson Royal could be considered, as he’s played there a few times this season.
Tactically, Postecoglou has brought some new ideas to Tottenham’s game, making it more flexible. He’s focused on passing the ball well and trying out new positions on the field. Postecoglou wants his team to attack aggressively, with a high defensive line and quick switches from defence to offense. Though they sometimes struggle to defend against counterattacks, Postecoglou’s style is changing how Tottenham plays.
Arsenal
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal had a strong fight for the title in 2022/23, but they lost to Manchester City. This season, they’re challenging for the title again, although a recent loss to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa hurt their chances. But after beating Chelsea to keep their hopes alive, and with only four games left, they’ll keep hoping that Manchester City and Liverpool drop points.
During the summer, Arsenal had many changes. Granit Xhaka left for Bayer Leverkusen, and others left too. They brought in new players like Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and David Raya, who have all been important this season. For some time, they were affected by injured players. And although Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira are back, Jurrien Timber is still recovering. On Sunday, Mikel will likely stick with the same lineup as against Chelsea, with Raya in goal and White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Tomiyasu in defense. He could pair Odegaard, Partey, and Rice in midfield, with Saka, Havertz, and Trossard upfront.
Arteta has done a great job at Arsenal, making tactical changes and bringing in young talent. Fans can expect more strategic moves in their upcoming match against their North London rivals.
Head-to-Head History
Arsenal has the best record in the North London Derby, winning the most trophies and matches. Since their first Football League match in 1909, they’ve played 194 official games against Tottenham. Arsenal won 81 times, Tottenham won 61, and they drew 52 times.
Some memorable North London Derby matches include Arsenal winning the league at White Hart Lane in 1971 and their unbeaten season in 2004. Tottenham’s 5–0 win at home in 1983 and Arsenal’s 5–0 win away in 1978 are also notable. Another significant match was when Tottenham beat Arsenal 3–1 in the semi-final of the 1990–91 FA Cup, which they eventually won. The highest-scoring game was Arsenal’s 5–4 win at White Hart Lane in November 2004. Harry Kane remains the Derby’s top scorer with fourteen goals.
Key Players to Watch
A derby showdown is more exciting when there are electric stars to see on the pitch. Both teams have in-form players that could turn the day in their favor. Let’s look at some of these names.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
With Harry Kane gone, his best assistant upfront, Son, faced a lot of pressure to perform for Spurs this season. He became the team’s main player and even got the captain’s armband from Ange Postecoglou. Despite a tough previous season, the 31-year-old has shown he’s still got it. He scored 15 goals and made 9 assists in 28 games, playing both on the left and as a central striker.
Micky van de Ven (Tottenham)
The former Wolfsburg defender quickly adapted to his new team and formed a solid partnership with Cristian Romero in defense. Before his injury, the Dutch player helped his team concede only 10 goals in 11 matches. But after he got injured, they let in seven goals in just three games.
Former Leicester City player James Madison has also been a key player for Spurs this season, adding creativity to the team. Each of these players fits perfectly into Postecoglou’s style of intense, purposeful, and confident play.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Odegaard didn’t make it at Real Madrid, but now he’s showing his worth at Arsenal. He’s one of Europe’s top playmakers at Emirates Stadium. According to Arteta, the captain is crucial for the team’s style of play. Arsenal can count on him to handle pressure and make things happen. He also works hard without the ball, setting a good example for his teammates.
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s strong defense this season is largely thanks to Saliba. He’s great at timing tackles and quickly turning defense into attack.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
The 22-year-old English player is a threat to any defense. He can score from anywhere and has the skills to open up defenses easily. This season, he’s already scored 14 goals and made 8 assists.
Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are also players to watch. Rice is excellent at winning back the ball and making interceptions while also posing a threat going forward. Havertz is in great form, scoring twice against Chelsea, his former team, and is eager to score against Tottenham too.
Predictions and Betting Odds
The upcoming Tottenham vs Arsenal match promises an intense showdown. Historically, the most common result is a 1-1 draw. Yet, recent trends favor Arsenal, who won both matches last season and flaunt a better Premier League record. Tottenham usually plays well at home, scoring often in the second half, especially between minutes 46-60 so betting experts from aussiecasinoreviewer.com recommend a bet on a goal for Tottenham in this period of playing time . Meanwhile, Arsenal tends to score late, between minutes 76-90.
Son Heung-min and Saka are key players to see. Both lead their teams in goals and assists. Despite Arsenal’s statistical advantage, Tottenham has shown resilience at home. They could stage a comeback if needed. Besides, both teams often average over two goals per game. This means gamblers should expect an exciting, high-scoring match. The most likely score is Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal, with a 10% probability based on 10,000 game simulations.
Final Words
The Arsenal vs Tottenham derby remains important in English (especially London) football. Both teams are in the top six big names in England. The last match played in the first half of the season was a four-goal thriller. And although Spurs haven’t been better than Arsenal lately, they’re strong at home. They’ve won three of their last five meetings there and hope to challenge Arsenal’s title hopes on Sunday. However, thorough statistical analysis predicts Arsenal has a 49% chance of winning the upcoming match at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, while the Whites have a 28% chance.