The Big Match: Arsenal v Tottenham Premier League prediction and team news

Arsenal v Tottenham

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Form guide

Having squeezed past Newcastle and Burnley, Arsenal were made acutely aware of the gulf between the very best and the rest when they were fairly effortlessly cuffed aside 3-1 at Liverpool last Saturday.

Six points out of a possible nine is still two more, however, than their rivals have managed.

Tottenham have played 270 minutes of football this season and led for just four of them, thanks to their late show at home to Aston Villa.

Then they picked up a priceless point at Manchester City, where they rode their luck, before throwing in a stinker in a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

Team news

Mesut Ozil looks to be well again after an illness but defenders Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Dinos Mavropanos and Hector Bellerin are still absentees for Arsenal.

Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele are hoping to be fit for Spurs, although Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to be out. Juan Foyth and Ryan Sessegnon are non-runners.

Tactical battle

Arsenal’s 4-2 triumph at home to Tottenham last season was a tactical masterclass from Unai Emery but one that is unlikely to be replicated.

Emery struck gold that afternoon with a 3-4-3 formation as Arsenal's high press sucked in Spurs to free up the spare midfielder.

This season Emery has seemingly dispensed with the wing-backs, the two in the middle and the early press, although if there’s one aspect of that 4-2 triumph which will be repeated it’s surely focusing the attack down Tottenham’s right, where the Champions League finalists look seriously weak.

This season Spurs are still generally dominating possession – they had over 70 per cent of the ball against Villa and Newcastle – but paradoxically they don’t look to be in control.

Too often they are undone by teams on the counter so Emery must be tempted to unleash a front three with pace to burn.

Spurs will have seen the trouble that David Luiz got into at Anfield and should appreciate that if you go at Arsenal with pace they can be exposed. In Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son in particular they have the weapons to hurt the Gunners.

Verdict

Neither of these sides comes into the first derby of the season in sparkling form and making a case for either isn’t easy.

For all the talk of improvements at the Emirates, Arsenal still look suspect at the back. Both teams boast pace out wide and both camps look weak at full-back, so there is the potential for goals and Spurs can edge a thriller.

Tottenham to win 2-1

Stats centre

• Arsenal have made just 39 tackles in their three matches, the lowest total in the Premier League
• Tottenham are without a win in their last seven away Premier League matches.
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight home North London derbies in the league (W5, D3) with a combined aggregate score of 20-9.
• Spurs have trailed at half-time in all three of their league matches and are the only side to be 'pointless' after 45 minutes.

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