Arsenal face the short trip to Tottenham this weekend as they look to continue to push Manchester City into the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s men beat Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday to take top spot, but City have a game in hand against their rivals.
The Gunners now travel to Spurs knowing they can afford absolutely no mistakes.
Tottenham will also be desperate to win as it is a north London derby and have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next year.
Ange Postecoglou’s men are currently fifth, behind Aston Villa by six points with two games in hand against the Villans.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Magical Odegaard
Arsenal made Chelsea look like relegation fodder in midweek, with excellent performances from Kai Havertz, Ben White, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
However, the star of the show was Martin Odegaard, who is looking more and more like one of the Gunners’ best signings.
The Norwegian is a sublime player in almost every way, with his ability on the ball to match his work rate.
Against Chelsea, everything Odegaard did was touched with class, from his assist for Havertz’s first goal to his delicate flick over the Blues defense for White’s second.
In addition to these assists, he also dictated the tempo and always looked to play forward, creating problem after problem for Arsenal’s opponents.
He started the season slowly but is now one of the best midfielders in the league, and Tottenham will have to find a way to stop him.
- Tottenham have won just one of their last six Premier League matches against Arsenal (D1 L4), with their four defeats in this series as many as in their previous 16 against the Gunners (W6 D6 ).
- Arsenal won this exact match 2-0 last season, their last consecutive away league victory against Spurs between 1987 and 1988 (a run of three).
- Until the end of the 2015–16 season, Arsenal v Tottenham was the most drawn match in Premier League history, with 20 of the 48 meetings between the teams finishing level (42%). Since then, only four of 15 North London derby matches have ended in a draw (27%).
Tottenham vs Arsenal: team news
The big news for Tottenham is that Destiny Udogie is out for the rest of the season.
The Italy international has been a revelation for Tottenham, but he suffered a thigh injury and underwent surgery to repair the left quadriceps problem.
This leaves Spurs with a problem at left-back as Ryan Sessegnon is also injured, meaning Ben Davies will likely replace him.
Pedro Porro was withdrawn from his last match against Newcastle with a hamstring problem and is doubtful he will face Arsenal.
Elsewhere, Fraser Forster and Manor Solomon are out, but Richarlison is expected to be fit after a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have just one permanent absentee in Jurrien Timber, although the Dutchman is now training and has played one Under-21 match after overcoming an ACL injury.
But Arteta could choose to rotate his team, with games coming in quick succession.
- Tottenham have scored in each of their last 25 Premier League home games – their third longest such streak in the competition, following two runs of 29 between January 2016/August 2017 and April 2011/October 2012.
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six Premier League away matches, with only two teams out of seven (Chelsea from September to December 2008 and Manchester United from November to February in 2008-09). However, the Gunners have never kept a clean sheet in consecutive league visits against Spurs before, winning that exact match 2-0 last season.
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six Premier League away matches, with only two teams out of seven (Chelsea from September to December 2008 and Manchester United from November to February in 2008-09). However, the Gunners have never kept a clean sheet in consecutive league visits against Spurs before, winning that exact match 2-0 last season.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: What was said?
talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor believes Arsenal have just one world-class player.
He said: “Yesterday I was having this debate with a taxi driver who was an Arsenal fan.
“He said to me: ‘Which Arsenal player do you think is or will become world class?’
“The only one I could name was (William) Saliba.
“I said Odegaard and Saka are very, very good players but I wouldn’t say they are two players who would be on Real Madrid’s radar, whereas Saliba, I would.
- Tottenham have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 Premier League matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, their longest run without a clean sheet at home since September 2003 (15). Indeed, only Burnley and Sheffield United (1 each) have kept fewer clean sheets at home than Spurs this season (2).
- Son Heung-min scored twice for Spurs in the reverse fixture against Arsenal in September, while only five players have scored more goals in the history of that match in all competitions than Son (7). The only player to score multiple goals in both north London derby matches in a Championship season was Arsenal’s Ted Drake in 1934-35.
- Bukayo Saka scored from the penalty spot in the reverse fixture – he could become the first English player to score home and away for Arsenal against Spurs in a Championship campaign since Ian Wright in 1993-94.
- Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League away games, scoring three and providing three assists.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: date and how to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday April 28.
Kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League.
Sky Go customers will be able to watch the action on their mobile devices or laptops. Alternatively, supporters can purchase a day pass from NOW TV for £11.98.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout the afternoon and talkSPORT.com will have a live blog keeping you up to date with the action.
To tune into talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, via your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
News Source : talksport.com
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