A bore draw or another 5-4? What to expect from Spurs vs Arsenal


A bore draw or another 5-4? What to expect from when Arsenal travel to Spurs for the North London Derby on Sunday

By Adam Le Roux 

Here we are then, the one all Arsenal fans look for when the fixtures come out. The one we’ve all been looking forward to, or dreading, for weeks. It’s time for the North London Derby.

This Sunday sees the Gunners make the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as local bragging rights get put on the line once again, in one of the most hotly-anticipated clashes of the season.

There is no worse sight in football for Arsenal fans than seeing their local rivals sitting high and mighty at the top of the Premier League table, but at the same time, there will be no better feeling than knocking them off their perch come Sunday afternoon.

It’s red vs white, Jose vs Mikel, and we all know anything can happen when these two sides clash, so what can we look forward to seeing when the two sides take to the field in N17?


Can Arsenal avoid another Mourinho masterclass?

Whatever club he has been at in the Premier League, Arsenal have always struggled against teams managed by Jose Mourinho, with ‘The Special One’ only once tasting defeat in his 17 matches against the Gunners.

The stats look even worse when you look at his record on his own patch when the men in red and white come to visit, with the Portuguese boasting a 100% home record. 

We all know what to expect from the former-Chelsea manager’s sides; they’re going to be hard to break down, and clinical in possession, and that is exactly how Spurs have been this season, which sees them top the Premier League table. 

Jose Mourinho

With just nine goals conceded in their ten games so far, chances are going to be at a premium on Sunday, but it is up to the Arsenal strike force to make sure they make the most of the opportunities when they come about. 

Only three clubs have attempted less shots than the Gunners’ 95 so far this season, resulting in just ten goals scored to date, but after a promising display against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday night, there is still hope that Arsenal could escape back to the Emirates with all three points.

Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the last six North London Derbies, so it is paramount that Arteta keeps his side tight at the back as well as free-flowing going forward.

You might be sure it’ll be a draw

Although both sides have had rather opposing seasons so far, with Spurs unbeaten since the opening day and Arsenal registering just one win in their last six, the smart money here would perhaps be on a draw.

And that is because the North London Derby is the fixture that has produced the second-most ties in Premier League history, with the scores being level at the end of 90 minutes a whopping 23 times.

And let’s be honest, the way things are going right now, the majority of Arsenal fans would be over the moon with a point from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, although they most likely wouldn’t admit it.

With two of the best defences in the division, this one is hardly going to be the goal glut that we have seen in this fixture in the past - although we’d all take a 5-4 thriller of the 2004 vintage given the opportunity.

A spot-kick is a shoe in

Aubameyang Penalty

The Premier League has been raining penalties this season, with spot-kicks being awarded left, right and centre since the current campaign got underway in September.

But the North London Derby was ahead of the curve in seeing its fair share of penalties awarded, with 21 awarded when these two have come up against each other in the Premier League.

Only two fixtures have seen more penalties, and with the referees pointing to the spot more than ever this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see at least one given on Sunday.

To give you some idea, the last four Premier League derbies have seen five penalties awarded - three to Spurs and two to Arsenal - although the Gunners only converted one of the pair.

Who can forget Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s injury time miss last October, which would have seen them claim a dramatic 2-1 victory at Wembley?

Arsenal fans will be hoping for a different outcome if a spot-kick is awarded this time around, as the search for a Premier League victory continues.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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