Adrian Mills’ tips for a huge North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium include plenty of goals and cards for each side.
Arsenal head to Tottenham having drawn 1-1 with Brighton in their final game before the international break, so that should ensure they are positive for this short trip as their market rivals for the Premier League title, champions Manchester City and Liverpool, are already two points ahead.
The motivation is always there for Spurs to be at the top of their game against their rivals especially at home and they will be desperate to stop the Gunners leaving with all three points, which they have done for the last two seasons.
It has been a mixed start to the season for Ange Postecoglou’s side as they should have won when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester in their opener, beaten Everton, who have had a dreadful start, and then they suffered a 2-1 loss at Newcastle, so there is still a feeling that their season hasn’t quite got going.
Best bets
Over 3.5 goals
Son Heung-min to score at any time
Over 5.5 cards
Both teams to try and get on the front foot
Tottenham are the only team to have scored against the Gunners in their last nine league away games and there have been some big hitters in that list, as MIkel Arteta’s side won at Manchester United and Aston Villa in that run, while also drawing at Manchester City.
Their last meeting at Spurs was a 3-2 win when they cruised to a 3-0 half-time lead and there is a strong chance that there will be plenty of goals in Sunday’s clash too.
Four of the last six meetings have produced at least four goals and there have been at least three in 14 of Tottenham’s last 15 home league games.
The ultra-charged atmosphere should lead to even more goalmouth action and the clean sheet Spurs earned in their 4-0 win over Everton was their first in a home league game since October, so a goalfest looks likely.
Son likely to lead the charge
Tottenham will hope to have Dominic Solanke available for the big game after injury, but Son Heung-Min remains their chief goal threat and he could be on the top of his game in another north London derby.
The South Korean scored two of the goals in the 4-0 victory over Everton and has a strong record in this fixture, having scored seven times in his last nine outings against Arsenal, including both in last season’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates, so it would not be a surprise if, once again, he rose to the big occasion.
Derby clash could get feisty
Dominating midfield will be key to success in this match and that battle could become even more intense with the Gunners unable to call upon the injured Martin Odegaard and the suspended Declan Rice.
Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur has already gone into the book twice this season and there looks a strong chance that there will be more than five cards in the match.
That has happened in nine of the last 13 league meetings and the tackles look set to go flying in during a match which is always intense regardless of what time in the campaign the game takes place or where the teams are in the standings.
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