User Review
( votes)Sunday sees the first Premier League North London derby of the season as Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates. A fixture never short of drama, Sunday’s match looks set to be another competitive affair with both sides coming into the game in good league form.
Arsenal suffered a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek and manager Arsene Wenger will be keen to see his side return to winning ways in a fixture that they have dominated recently. In the league, Arsenal have won 13 and lost just two of their last 18 matches at the Emirates and their record against Tottenham is even better, with Tottenham having only recorded one win in their last 22 trips to their North London rivals. If Arsenal are to continue this record, they will have to do so without a number of first choice players who are missing through injury. Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hector Bellerin, Jack Wilshire, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck are all set to miss Sunday’s match. Arsenal will look to their three in-form players of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to provide an attacking threat with both Giroud and Sanchez having scored six goals each in the Premier League so far this season. Ozil has the most assists so far this season in the Europe’s top five leagues with nine and he has provided the assist for four of Giroud’s six goals. Arsenal currently sit in second place in the Premier League table, with only goal difference separating them from leaders Manchester City. If Wenger and his players have genuine title aspirations this season, then matches such as Sunday have to be won if they are to be seen as genuine title contenders.
Tottenham go into Sunday’s match with the longest unbeaten record remaining in the Premier League this season. An opening day defeat by Manchester United has been followed with five wins and five draws from their subsequent 10 matches. They have lost just two out of their last 10 away fixtures in the Premier League and manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hopeful to continue this strong record on Sunday. Harry Kane has returned to the goal scoring form of last season, scoring five goals this season, with four in his last two matches and a goal in the Europa League tie against Anderlecht in midweek. Eric Dier and Dele Alli have looked impressive in the Tottenham midfield this season and both have been called up by England manager Roy Hodgson for the upcoming international friendlies. Tottenham harbour aspirations of securing a Champions League slot this season and with the poor form of London neighbours Chelsea this is certainly possible.
Arsenal are the 1.73 (8/11) favourites for victory on Sunday with Tottenham available at 5.2 (21/5) and the draw 4.3 (33/10). With both sides in similar league form it may well be that the draw is the value bet on Sunday so the football betting tip for the match is the draw at 4.3 (33/10).
By: Scott McGlynn