Preview; Spurs v Arsenal Sunday, 4.30 pm (on Sky)
After the last couple of games, like all Spurs supporters, the future looks cloudy for us. As for the Arsenal game..? I think you might as well just throw a coin in the air and shout heads or tails. At least that is how I feel, and I doubt I am the only one.
Anyway, to the team news.
TEAM NEWS
We are unsure about Dele Alli and are waiting for confirmation. He’s been missing for a couple of games through injury. Eric Dier, as we all know, is serving a 4-match ban, he has three games left.
As for Arsenal; they have failed in their appeal against Eddie Nketiah’s red card against Leicester, so he begins a three-match ban. At least some good news on the Gunners front.
Calum Chambers, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari and Gabriel Martinelli all remain incapacitated.
My Prediction
Where do I start? My first thoughts are to reach for the wine and keep drinking. But what I won’t do is bet against us and for Arsenal. Both teams – point wise – are close to each other. A win for us and we will leapfrog them, if they win it will help their chances for Europa League place.
Both teams are in mid-table, and only on the peripheries of the race for the Champions League spot (but as we all know, a distance dream… no, more likely, the fringes of Europea-Thursday-League-football). Of course, both sides had different ideas at the beginning of the season. So, this is where both teams are at the moment, but I still think (and of course I am biased), that we are more compact than the Gunners.
I think that says it all about where both teams are at this moment in time. They both have flaws, but I’d still say Spurs are more solid than the Gunners. Therefore I am going for 2-1. But to be honest, nothing will surprise me.
Mourinho has made a statement, saying that before he leaves this club, he will win us a trophy. I hope so, we’ve been starved of silverware, more than any other top club in the Premier League. He also said that it had taken Klopp four years to win a trophy. But in the case of Klopp, his board backed him with funds, ours channelled any funs in a different direction. Only allowing the managers to have crumbs.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We are unbeaten in our last five home league games against Arsenal (W3, D2).
The Gunners’ only clean sheet in their last 10 away league matches against Spurs came in a 1-0 victory in March 2014. That was the last away league win by either side in this fixture.
We have dropped 42 points from winning positions in Premier League games against Arsenal, more than any side has against another in the competition’s history.
No Premier League fixture has seen more penalties scored than the north London derby – 19 have been netted in total.
Tottenham
We are aiming to win three league games in a row at our new Stadium for the first time since our opening three Premier League matches there in April 2019.
Five of Harry Kane’s Premier League goals against the Gunners have been penalties – only Alan Shearer, with seven against Everton, has scored more from the spot against a single opponent in the competition.
Jose Mourinho has never lost a home game against Arsenal in his career (W5, D4).
Callum Wilson’s disallowed strike for Bournemouth was the sixth time Tottenham have conceded a Premier League goal which has later been ruled out by VAR – only Brighton and Southampton (both seven) have benefitted from this more times.
Arsenal
Arsenal are looking to end a Premier League season unbeaten in away London derbies for the first time since 2004-05.
Only Liverpool have lost fewer top-flight matches than the eight Arsenal have this campaign.
The Gunners could win three successive away games in the league without conceding for the first time since May 2013.
Mikel Arteta lost only two of his nine North London derby appearances as an Arsenal player.
Bukayo Saka has 12 assists in all competitions this season, only Kevin De Bruyne (19) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (14) have more amongst Premier League players.
So, there you are… the rest is in the lap of the Gods. I wonder what sort of conversation we are going to have after Sunday’s game? Euphoria or suicidal? I’ve got my bottle of wine to help me through this traumatic game. Actually, haven’t they all been traumatic? To be fair, we should be used to it. Supporting our club can affect you psychologically. Anybody else going to join me in the alcoholic drink of their choice? Bottoms Up!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
