Premier League: Arsenal and Spurs Clash is Bigger than Ever

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

When was the last time the North London derby was too close to call? I’d say pre-Premier League, and so this Sunday’s game is massive for both teams.

Spurs have looked the better title prospect over the past couple of seasons, and their players will still be kicking themselves for losing the league to Leicester City in 2016. Prior to that, it was all Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles ruled North London for the better part of two decades.

But Premier League Arsenal vs Spurs is a very different prospect now. They will leapfrog their rivals into a Champions League place should Unai Emery’s team win on Sunday, and that means more than just bragging rights. Whether we’ll see a power shift again is too early to say, but whichever team wins will be setting down a big marker.

Talking Points

Pierre has well and truly arrived at the Emirates

It’s all looking quite promising at the Emirates at the moment: the young Gunners have performed well in the Europa League to top Group E as well as making steady progress in the Premier League. Emery got off to a tricky start as Arsenal boss, losing to Manchester City and Chelsea on the opening two weekends. But his team showed its mettle, earning a draw with high-flying Liverpool.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang desire to lead Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League — Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang challenges Sporting’s Jeremy Mathieu in Europa League

But more than anything, the SBOBET Premier League 2018 pundits and fans have all noticed the rise and rise of Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang. He’s currently the joint top scorer in the league, alongside Sergio Aguero, on eight goals. Strike partner Alexandre Lacazette has scored five goals as confidence has coursed through the Emirates since the arrival of Emery. But the partnership which could unlock the Spurs defence is that of Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The two were simply devastating together at Dortmund, and Mkhitaryan seems to have found his natural Premier League home at Arsenal after a difficult spell at Manchester United.

Can Pochettino outwit Emery?

Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino has crossed swords with Emery recently when Spurs lost to PSG in an International Champions Cup tie last year. But the two highly rated managers cut their teeth in La Liga where Emery’s Valencia played Pochettino’s Espanyol seven times between 2009 and 2012; and it was Emery who had the upper hand, winning four and drawing one while Pochettino triumphed in the first and last meetings.

Poch has more experience of the Premier League, arriving and impressing at Southampton in 2013, and he’s now in his fifth season with Spurs. He still insists he is not under pressure to win silverware, but I’d beg to differ. With the talent he’s had at his disposal, surely he must win something soon. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are among the very best players in the league, and in World Cup winner Hugo Lloris they have an outstanding keeper. Young midfield star Harry Winks said the late winner against Inter in the midweek Champions League game was just the lift Spurs needed to prepare for this big North London clash. And the victory over Chelsea last weekend was by far Spurs’ best performance of the season; there are signs that this highly skilled team is gathering momentum again.

The Lilywhites have more points after 13 games than they did last season but they need to be ruthless.

History

Both teams come into the game in superb forms: Arsenal with an unbeaten run of 18 games while Spurs have won five in five in November.

The Gunners haven’t lost in any of their ten home matches this season, while Spurs have won seven of their eight on the road.

Arsenal won this fixture 2-0 last season and the Gunners have had the better of Arsenal vs Spurs results throughout the Premier League era, with 23 wins, 23 draws and 11 defeats to their North London rivals.

Betting Tip

	Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur	Arsenal Draw no Bet @ 1.94
	December 2, 22:05(GMT+8)

This is a really close match to call, and the Arsenal vs Spurs betting odds are on a knife-edge with the Gunners at 2.57 to win with Spurs available at 2.65. The draw at 3.30 may well seem the most likely result and will be a popular one for fence-sitters!

Both have participated in eight games with over 2.50 goals so we should see an entertaining game, but I think home advantage may just play into Arsenal’s hands. They have not lost this derby on home soil in the last eight encounters, and I’m backing that to become nine.