North London Derby Preview: Slick Arsenal ready to beat lacklustre Spurs


After the conclusion of the Nations League fixtures, the Premier League returns, and the first match of the weekend takes us to the Emirates, where league leaders Arsenal take on unbeaten Tottenham in the North London Derby.


Last season, both sides won their respective home games. The Gunners won 3-1 in September 2021 before Tottenham ran out winners in front of their own fans in May to secure a top four finish. The meeting at the Emirates saw Mikel Arteta’s side race to a 3-0 lead before half-time, while Tottenham got their revenge with a 3-0 victory as Arsenal’s Champions League hopes faltered in the home stretch. That Arsenal performance was devoid of confidence and hope; the dream had vanished in front of their very eyes.


However, Arsenal are a completely different side now to the one that finished last season in fifth. Summer signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have proven inspired buys from Manchester City, while the introduction of William Saliba has proved dividends for Arteta. They have won six of their opening seven league games this season, with fans now dreaming of their first top four finish since 2017. Moreover, their return of 17 goals scored is only bettered by Manchester City (23) and their opponents on Saturday, Spurs (18).

 

Arsenal started last season with three straight defeats and nine goals conceded. While they have only recorded three clean sheets so far this season, it is clear they have improved defensively as a team. In their last outing, a 3-0 win away to Brentford, they limited their opponents to just five attempts – Brentford’s lowest ever return in a Premier League home game. Arsenal have eight more points at this stage than last season, with their only blip a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United. The Gunners were arguably the better side for most of that game, only for Arteta’s naive substitutions to cost them the game.

 

Arsenal’s credentials will be tested once again this weekend when they face rivals Tottenham. They will do well to manage the attacking prowess of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, who are regular scorers in this fixture.

 

 

Kane, who has netted six times in the Premier League already this season, scored in England’s draw with Germany on Monday, whereas Son put questions about his form to bed with a stunning 13-minute hat-trick off the bench against Leicester before the break. The South Korea international then followed that up with goals in back-to-back games on international duty. Both players netted twice against Arsenal last season, with Son claiming his first Golden Boot award (23 goals).

 

Tottenham have a win rate of 59% since appointing Antonio Conte in November last year and since beating Arsenal at the back end of last season have gone on to win seven of nine league games. Even though they are yet to hit top form this season, they are only a point behind Arsenal heading into Saturday’s encounter. However, their recent record at Arsenal is poor. They haven’t won a Premier League match at the Emirates since 2010, when Younes Kaboul of all players scored the winner in a 3-2 thriller.

 

North London Derby Preview: Slick Arsenal ready to beat lacklustre Spurs

 

Conte hasn’t particularly enjoyed trips to Arsenal, either. The Italian is winless in his three visits, losing twice in that time and conceding eight goals in the process. This will be his first trip as Tottenham manager.

 

With all things considered, Arsenal will be seen as slight favourites. However, this will not be as straightforward as some of the matches they have played this season and the outcome will tell us more the development of each side.  

North London Derby Preview: Slick Arsenal ready to beat lacklustre Spurs