Tottenham Hotspur had a tough time dealing with their 4-0 thrashing by Newcastle in the Premier League. However, all hope is not lost for them as they have two games in hand on Aston Villa, the team they are chasing in the battle for fourth place. Now, they are gearing up for their 173rd league North London derby against table-toppers Arsenal, and there is plenty at stake for both sides.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite being out of action, Tottenham couldn’t escape bad news this week as Destiny Udogie was sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury. On a more positive note, manager Ange Postecoglou hinted that Richarlison could make a return off the bench after a two-game absence. Heading back home should also work in Tottenham’s favor as they have won their last three Premier League games here, even after conceding first in two of them.
Arsenal, on the other hand, might feel confident about scoring at least three times themselves, considering their impressive 5-0 win over Chelsea in a recent London derby. This victory secured them top spot going into this matchday, even before Liverpool’s midweek loss to Everton. Arsenal has lost just once in their last six head-to-head clashes against Tottenham (W4, D1). Their win at Tottenham’s home venue last January was their first since September 2015 (D2, L5). Thus, Mikel Arteta’s side should not be complacent as they aim to avoid a repeat of last season’s poor finish.
The Title Race and Player Performances
Arsenal’s strong defense is worth noting, as they have not conceded in any of their last six away league games (W5, D1). This suggests that they have the resilience to keep the title race alive until the very end.
One player to watch for Tottenham is Brennan Johnson, who was last on the scoresheet against West Ham in a 1-1 draw. He has scored three of his five Premier League goals this season after half-time, and all of them have contributed to victories. For Arsenal, Ben White’s brace helped the team secure a win during the week. However, he might be more likely to receive a yellow card in this heated derby clash, as he has picked up four bookings in his last six competitive appearances.
Exciting Matches at Home
Tottenham’s home games have been full of excitement, with each of their last 12 home league matches producing over 2.5 goals and seeing both teams on the scoresheet (W8, L4). This trend adds to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming North London derby.