Preview; Spurs v Arsenal Sunday 4.30pm
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
This is a match that both sets of fans look forward to, however, I am not sure that it has been the case for the Gooners the last couple of seasons. We are top of the league while the arsewipes sare 13 places below us (which works out an 8pt gap).
Jose Mourinho has never lost a home match to Arsenal in his managerial career, and we are in good form and spirits.
We are at the top of the league after beating Manchester City and drawing at Chelsea in our last two league games.
TEAM NEWS
Spurs
Harry Kane is expected to face Arsenal despite an unspecified knock keeping him out of our Europa League tie on Thursday. Toby Alderweireld might also feature, having returned to training this week following a groin strain.
Gooners
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is close to full fitness after a thigh injury and is hoping to be involved. David Luiz, who suffered a cut to the head in a collision with Wolves striker Raul Jimenez last weekend, could play.
My thoughts and prediction
We are a better side than Arsenal, and a more reliable side, plus have a superior defence. On top of that, Harry Kane and Son have also been the best two in the league, and I have no doubt that we will give the Gunners defence a tough time (with or without Kane).
As for the gunners, well, they don’t seem to have leaders at the moment – so when the going gets tough, they hide.
But a word of warning; that doesn’t mean they are going to be a piece of cake. After all, this is a London derby, and anything can happen in such a match. What we mustn’t do is get arrogant and think we’ve already won it.
I can’t see this being a high scoring game… but then again nor could I see United being a high scoring game either, and we all know what happened there.
My Prediction: 2-0 or 2-1.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We can win consecutive competitive North London derbies for the first time since a run of three from 1980 to 1982.
Arsenal’s solitary victory in their past 12 Premier League away fixtures against Spurs was 1-0 in March 2014. The Gunners are winless in six subsequent league visits (D2, L4).
We have dropped a competition-high 42 Premier League points from winning positions against Arsenal.
Tottenham Hotspur
Our nine-match unbeaten run is the longest currently in the Premier League.
We could win five consecutive home games in all competitions for the first time in two years.
We are vying to keep four successive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since April 2017.
We have the division’s best defensive record, conceding nine goals in 10 games.
Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in competitive home fixtures against Arsenal, winning six games and drawing four.
A goal for Harry Kane would make him the outright highest scorer in North London derbies with 11 – he is currently level with Emmanuel Adebayor and Bobby Smith.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s tally of 13 points is their lowest after 10 matches since the 1981-82 season.
They have lost five of their past eight league games, as many as in their first 22 top-flight fixtures under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners could keep three consecutive away clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since May 2013.
They have gone 566 minutes without scoring from open play in the Premier League.
Arteta is winless in all seven of his Premier League games as a player and a manager against Jose Mourinho.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is averaging a goal every 449 minutes in the Premier League this season, compared with one every 128 minutes previously.
Well, that is it, folks, until next time, take care.
Glenn
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”
