Arsenal visit White Hart Lane on Saturday lunchtime as they look to extend their unbeaten run to six games having accumulated four clean sheets in their last five games, after working intensely on their ‘defensive shape’ as Per Mertesacker explained this week.
Arsenal can go third with a win over Tottenham as they chase a fourth consecutive win in the North London Derby after winning the fixture three times last season without reply, and with five wins from six in 2015, scoring 15 and conceding just four in the process, Arsenal have finally found balance and form and the return of Mesut Özil and Theo Walcott have provided the Gunners with even more attacking options, if they didn’t have enough already.
Tottenham themselves have started to pick up some form themselves in recent games and are unbeaten at home since the 9th November when Stoke came to White Hart Lane and won 2-1 thanks to a Bojan-inspired Stoke City performance. Harry Kane is in divine form and already has 20 goals to his name this season, more than double Roberto Soldado has in 19 months.
But Arsenal will feel very confident ahead of this game, despite Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen having superb seasons, with Theo Walcott, Mesut Özil and Danny Welbeck all set to play, Arsenal won 2-0 at Manchester City last month, can they continue their fine form and get back-to-back victories at White Hart Lane for the first time since 1988.
Team News
Arsène Wenger revealed in his press conference today that Alexis Sanchez will miss the North London Derby, which caused a social media meltdown amongst Arsenal fans, but Danny Welbeck returns after his injury but Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out.
Match Stats
– Emmanuel Adebayor relishes these occasions and is the current top scorer in North London Derbies with eight goals
– Arsene Wenger has never managed back-to-back wins at White Hart Lane
– Tottenham have had twelve permanent managers during Arsene Wenger’s reign
– Spurs last beat Arsenal 23 months ago during a 2-1 win, in which Gareth Bale scored
Prediction
Tottenham usually turn up against Arsenal at White Hart Lane, but Arsenal will feel they don’t have a better chance to get consecutive wins over Spurs at White Hart Lane. I’m going for Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal.
