Arsenal host Tottenham at the Emirates in the first North London Derby of the season. The Gunners will be looking to wash away the bitter taste of their late draw against Sunderland while Spurs will look to continue their impressive away form. Tottenham have scored 12 goals and conceded just 3 on their travels and have yet to lose. Mikel Arteta’s side need to take advantage of both Liverpool and Manchester City dropping points this weekend — a win today would tighten Arsenal’s grip on the Premier
League.
It’s tough to get a read on Spurs. For what it’s worth, form and quality go out the window in the NLD. The match is a thing unto itself, and it always seems highly competitive, regardless of the actual level of both sides. But to the extent it matters, I don’t know what to make of Thomas Frank’s side.
The football is often dreadful to watch. They really struggle to progress the ball. Other than Cuti Romero, they don’t have players who are adept passing out of the back and in the middle third. But they’ve scored the sixth-most goals in the Premier League and have the fourth-best goal difference. As you’d expect from a Thomas Frank side, they’re competent and threatening from set pieces. They’re getting results, even if they aren’t pretty.
At the same time, over their last five Premier League matches (a 4-1-0) run, Spurs have scored 12 goals from 6.7 expected and conceded 3 from 6.4 expected. The performances haven’t been quite as good as the results would suggest. Good teams generally over-perform their metrics, but are we sure Tottenham are a good team? It’s always worth keeping an eye on the clubs whose results seem to defy the underlying numbers.
On Arsenal’s side of things, it’s all about injuries. Somehow the situation got (arguably) worse over the international break, you know that same international break after which they were supposed to start getting guys back. Gabriel Magalhaes picked up a thigh injury that is going to keep him out for several weeks — the club should know more after scans this week. Riccardo Calafiori, who is fit enough to start, left Italy camp early with a niggling hip problem. Kai Havertz reportedly had a small setback in his recovery. Neither Martin Ødegaard nor Viktor Gyokeres is ready to return. Gabriel Jesus is still likely a couple weeks away from availability.
Both Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke return to the squad after their respective injuries but are only fit enough for the bench.
Arsenal – Raya, Calafiori, Hincapie, Saliba, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze Trossard, Saka, Merino
Tottenham – Vicario, Romero, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Palhinha, Udogie, Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert
WHAT: Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, November 23rd 8:30 am PT | 11:30 am ET | 4:30 pm GMT
US TV: Streaming on Peacock.
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