This Sunday sees the first North London Derby of the season take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it promises to be a belter.
A number of commentators have recently suggested that Arsenal’s title challenge may hinge on their away trips to Spurs and Man City and that could be true. At least, where they stand early on could depend on such games.
How true that is remains to be seen but in any case, this away day is a tough test for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Sloppy Spurs Need to Improve
Regardless of the chase for Europe and the title, this match is fascinating in itself after recent failures for both sides before the international break.
Spurs dominated possession in their game at Newcastle, only to lose deservedly. They didn’t create enough clearcut chances and when they did, they took precisely none of them. The goal they did get was very lucky and they cannot afford to be so wasteful this time around.
Arsenal were hoping for business as usual at the Emirates against Brighton and that appeared to be the case early on in the game. Declan Rice was then controversially sent off however and that changed the course of events.
Whether others on the field should have been punished is an interesting question, but the fact is that the red card Rice received was correct and he was stupid. More to the point, it showed Arsenal don’t have tons in hand as Brighton then took control leaving the hosts lucky to get a point.
Now, in the derby, something has to give.
Do Spurs Have the Right Players?
Ange Postecoglu has said that he always wins something in his second season. He has to deliver now, but has he assembled the right squad to be able to challenge?
Cristian Romero is their second most valuable player and he is a centre-back. Their fourth most valuable is also a centre-back (and injured), while the right-back and goalkeeper are also among their most prized possessions. Despite this, they were so open against Newcastle which is a worry.
There seems to be a lot of reliance on Son and James Maddison, but with William Saliba and Arsenal’s ‘keeper in flying form, they may find breakthroughs difficult which would leave them very vulnerable going the other way.
For their part Arsenal will be without Declan Rice of course, but they are still brimming with talent. Bukayo Saka is just doing what Saka does this season, while Trossard also remains a danger.
Arsenal should go on and win this game, but what is the value play?
Bet Builder Featuring an Arsenal Win
Arsenal are around 13/10 for the win. Frankly, that alone could prove to be generous especially for your multiples but it can also be well utilised in a Bet Builder.
Saka is the best attacker on the pitch, assuming nothing goes wrong, while it can’t be forgotten that it was his area of the pitch in which Tottenham were so negligent against Newcastle, especially for their winning goal.
Backing the England winger to score at anytime in an Arsenal win, along with 2 or more goals to be scored in the game, comes to around 5/1 and that looks like a pretty fair shout.
Bet Builder:
- Arsenal to win
- Bukayo Saka to score at any time
- Over 2 goals in the match