Match Threads Arsenal vs Spurs - Match Thread - Day 28

[Bulletspur]

ARSENAL 2-1 SPURS
Odegaard, Lacazette Lamela​

Spurs: Lloris (C), Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Ndombele (Dele), Lucas, Bale (Sissoko), Son (Lamela), Kane.
Subs: Hart, Aurier, Dier, Davies, Winks, Dele, Vinicius.

Arsenal: Leno, Cedric, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Smith Rowe, Odegaard, Saka, Lacazette.
Subs: Ryan, Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Elneny, Ceballos, Willian, Pepe, Aubameyang.

Official Site Match Centre
One change from our last Premier League line-up against Palace last weekend - Tanguy Ndombele comes in for Harry Winks. It's six changes to the team that started in our UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg win against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night.

REFEREE: ----- Michael Oliver ???????

TEAM FORM: - Arsenal LWWDW ---- Spurs WWWWW -------- (All Competitions)

One of the standout fixtures in the Premier League calendar will take place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal welcome us for the North London Derby. Arsenal are currently 10th in the table, having picked up just 38 points from 27 matches this season, while we occupy seventh, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand. ( At of posting this)

Arsenal will enter Sunday's contest off the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 over Olympiacos in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie, which has placed them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals. The Gunners will more than likely have to win this season's Europa League in order to be present in the 2021-22 Champions League as they currently sit down in 10th position in the table, 12 points off the top four. Arsenal have won just 11 of their 27 league matches this season and suffered 11 defeats, which is just one fewer than Fulham in 18th and the same as struggling Brighton & Hove Albion. The capital giants have had two recent impressive wins against Leeds United and Leicester City in England's top flight, but they were held to a 1-1 by Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend, with a mistake from Xhaka allowing Chris Woods to cancel out an early goal from Aubameyang.

Arsenal are seven points behind us on the same number of matches, and it is incredibly difficult to imagine the Gunners finishing in a potential European spot, which as mentioned, places a lot of pressure on their current Europa League campaign. Home form has been an issue this term, with Arteta's side dropping points in eight of their 13 league matches at the Emirates Stadium, while they have not enjoyed their recent meetings with us, losing three of the last five fixtures between us in all competitions.Saka has been a shining light for Arsenal this season but too many of the club's experienced players have struggled for consistency, and it will be fascinating to see how much money is available for transfers this summer as investment is needed to make them a top-four challenger once again. The so called London giants are entering a key run of matches, facing Olympiacos in the second leg of their last-16 Europa League tie next week before taking on West Ham United and Liverpool in back-to-back league matches, and they will be determined to halt our top-four challenge this weekend.
Like Arsenal, we will enter Sunday's North London derby off the back of a positive result in the Europa League, with our Kane scoring twice in a 2-0home success over Dinamo Zagreb. In all competitions, we have now won our last five matches, including our last three in the Premier League against Burnley, Fulham and Crystal Palace. There was a lot of pressure on us to pick up a strong result against Palace last weekend, and an excellent performance saw Kane and Bale both net braces in a 4-1 success. After losing 2-1 to West Ham United on February 21, we looked out of contention for a top-four spot, but we are now just five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand and will certainly believe that we are capable of claiming a Champions League position.

Kane and Son have again enjoyed strong seasons for the club, while Bale appears to be finding form at the perfect time, with the Wales international scoring four times in his last three league appearances. Wes have the second leg of our last-16 Europa League clash away to Dinamo Zagreb next Thursday but are not back in league action until a trip to Aston Villa on March 21, which makes Sunday's derby even more important as we look to stay in and around the European positions. We will also face Manchester City in the final of the EFL Cup at the end of April, and it could be a brilliant end to the campaign for us, who have certainly had our this season.
As mentioned, Arsenal's home form this term has been indifferent, but we have also found it difficult to show consistency on our travels, dropping points in seven of our 13 league fixtures away from our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Sunday's clash with the Gunners should be a fascinating affair.


Team News:

Arsenal have a fully-fit squad for the North London derby, with Smith - Rowe making his return from injury as a substitute against Olympiacos in the Europa League on Thursday evening. Arteta is not expected to make too many changes for Sunday's contest, although Pablo Mari should return at the heart of the defence, while Pepe is likely to be given the nod over Willian. Martin odegaard should again feature as the number 10 behind Aubameyang, meanwhile, with Saka, Partey and Xhaka and Xhaka also set to retain their spots against us.

As for us, lo Celso remains a slight doubt with a back problem, but Kane should be available despite suffering a knock to his knee during Thursday's clash with Dinamo. Kane, who is the leading goalscorer in North London derbies with 11, had an ice pack on the injured area in the latter stages of the Europa League contest, but Mourinho revealed after the game that our star player should be fit. There will be changes from Thursday's match, with, Toby, Reguilon and Hojbjerg set to return, while Bale and Lucas should also be in the XI. Winks was handed a start against Palace last weekend, but Ndombele could get the nod alongside Hojbjerg for the North London derby.


Head to Head:

Arsenal lead the overall head-to-head record between us, winning 82 times to our 66, while there have also been 54 draws throughout history. As mentioned, we have won three of the last five meetings in all competitions, including the last two in the Premier League, triumphing 2-0 at our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in December.

The last league meeting at the Emirates Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw in September 2019, and we have not actually beaten Arsenal away from home in the league since November 2010. We are bidding to complete a top-flight double over Arsenal for the first time since the 1992-93 campaign, but we have won just two of our last 35 away league games against the Gunners.

Banner courtesy of @chrissivad

 

[TheChosenOne]

Nice and early thread LOL..
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I'm feeling confident about this - We seem to have got our shit together again.
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Thanks @Bulletspur & @chrissivad for the thread start. Appreciated ...
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COYLW's

 

[Bulletspur]

Nice and early thread LOL..

I nearly got burned the last time as I clearly forgot to post! I thought I would do it now while I remembered and had time

 

[Nerine]

We’re enjoying a good run of form.

If we happen to win this game, I think it’ll be a good springboard to push on for the remainder of the season.

And other such clichés.

Essentially; it’s probably the toughest game we’ve had for a while so will be a bit of a barometer to measure our progress and what we could expect towards the business end of the season. A win will definitely increase confidence.
If we lose, we’ll be like “Oh, yeah. We are still shit.” which has the potential to unravel us a bit.

 

[tevezito]

Those doing the double and away win stats are massively against us winning this - would be a big statement of the change in bragging rights in North London if we beat them, alongside how much it will help to keep us in the top four race.

 

[Shadydan]

 

[Erm33]

Beat the bastards any way any how.

 

[fuzzylogic]

Think they will gub us on Sunday. Love to be proved wrong

 

[piedpiper]

Those Danny Rose and David Bentley goals still warm my heart.

 

[piedpiper]

Last weekend I was convinced we going to smash the goons.... the closer the game gets and the nerves are setting in. I think their result Thursday has something to do with it and @ Bulletspur stats of our last win being in 2010 at their ground.

 

[Serpico]

Strange one this. Regardless of thier recent results, they are more than capable putting on a very good performance which we will struggle against. We seem equally capable and.could easily do the same against the odds (we just dont win at Highbury).
Both teams will want and I feel need to win this. Thankfully they are defensively poor as we are although we have improved a little lately. Its going to be a good one but only if we win.

 

[Serpico]

Last weekend I was convinced we going to smash the goons.... the closer the game gets and the nerves are setting in. I think their result Thursday has something to do with it and @ Bulletspur stats of our last win being in 2010 at their ground.

same...
The 2010 stat penetrate a negative vibe into my mind and allowed doubt to rear its head, I could see the real world through SPURS glasses once again. Score draw for me (if we're lucky).

 

[jay2040]

Jose and the dream team attack are the difference this time . Kane is on fire and just have a feeling that Spurs express is going to carry on. I think Jose has got the team hungry for success again..

 

[dickieven]

Our record there is pretty pathetic so I really want to win this. I do think we are the better team all over the pitch so we could do it this time. Our front four against their defence should be fun. COYS

Thanks for the thread as always.

 

[hellava_tough]

Hopefully we can capitalise on their defensive mistakes

 

[Gassin's finest]

Set Bale on them. Luiz won't know what day it is.

 

[GutBucket]

At least one of Kane, Son, Bale should have a decent game and that should be enough if we stay solid defensively. Need Lloris at his best too. Sanchez pocketed PEA last season (kind of) and Moura was awesome defensively, hopefully they do it again.

 

[Springerding]

Hope Jose doesn't do anything crazy with the starting line up, especially with the back four of Doherty Sanchez Toby & Reggie who seem to have found some form between them, Doherty seems to have clicked with Bale on the right side.

 

[Monkey boy]

The throwing away of the 2 goal last season was a real sickener, especially the way we let them back in to the game right on half time. Just boot it Danny Rose!!

hopefully Son finds his goal scoring boots again tomorrow, couple that with the inevitable Bale or Kane goal and I think we’ll win.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Bale should be enough if we stay solid defensively.

Hope Jose doesn't do anything crazy with the starting line up, Doherty seems to have clicked