Arsenal v Tottenham predictions: Flawed rivals could make cagey start to derby

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Arsenal v Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bets

0-0 half-time correct score
2pts 7-4 bet365

Granit Xhaka to be shown the first card
1pt 10-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Arsenal
Granit Xhaka returns from suspension and is expected to partner Thomas Partey in midfield. Kieran Tierney is a slight doubt.

Tottenham
Lucas Moura is back in training but Ryan Sessegnon and Steven Bergwijn are likely to miss out. Oliver Skipp could get the nod over Tanguy Ndombele in midfield.

Match preview

After three games of the season Tottenham were nine points clear of Arsenal but, less than a month later, a derby win for the Gunners would take them level with Spurs in the Premier League table.

That scenario reflects the inconsistency of these two flawed teams which, in turn, makes Sunday's clash at the Emirates Stadium a tough one for punters to assess.

Arsenal, with home advantage, are favourites to take three points and none of the last 14 north London derbies in the league have been won by the away team.

However, can the Gunners be a confident pick after scoring just twice in their first five league matches this season?

They were poor at promoted Brentford on the opening day, losing 2-0, before a predictable 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea and a 5-0 rout at Manchester City, where they were two down inside 12 minutes even before Granit Xhaka's first-half red card.

A couple of 1-0 wins over lowly Norwich and Burnley eased the pressure on Mikel Arteta, who went odds-on in the sack race after the defeat at the Etihad, and there are reasons for the Gunners to be cautiously optimistic.

An attacking midfield trio of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe (aged 20, 22 and 21) gladdens the heart and Thomas Partey will improve the spine of the team if he can stay fit.

Arteta is working out his strongest defensive unit as Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu settle into their new surroundings. Indeed, of the five defenders and goalkeeper who shipped five at the Etihad last month, only Kieran Tierney is likely to be in Arsenal's first-choice backline.

The home defence should not be daunted by a Tottenham side who beat champions City, Wolves and Watford all by a 1-0 margin before 3-0 defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Both the Palace and Chelsea games were 0-0 at half-time, extending the remarkable statistic that teams managed by Nuno Espirito Santo have failed to score in the first half of 84 of his 119 Premier League matches.

Given that between them these sides have scored just five times in ten league games this season, a goalless first half looks a tempting price at 7-4.

Star men Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane have been below their best this term and ten of Arsenal's 19 home league games in 2020-21 were 0-0 at the break.

The Spurs players would be well advised to target Xhaka, whose reckless approach to midfield scraps is unlikely to be tempered by his dismissal at City. The Swiss international has been booked in seven of his last nine games against Tottenham, was cautioned in his final two appearances at Euro 2020, and is well worth backing to receive the first card.

Key stat

Granit Xhaka has been booked in seven of his last nine appearances against Tottenham.

Inside info

Arsenal

Penalty taker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Free-kick wizard Martin Odegaard
Set-piece aerial threat Gabriel Magalhaes
Card magnet Granit Xhaka

Tottenham

Penalty taker Harry Kane
Free-kick wizardHarry Kane
Set-piece aerial threatDavinson Sanchez
Card magnetPierre-Emile Hojbjerg

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