North London Derby: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview, Prediction & Betting Odds (GW12)
The Emirates will be a crackling cauldron Sunday as top-of-the-table Arsenal welcome fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby that has the potential to shape the title race and the quest for European qualification.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will implore his team to press their advantage as they look to extend the four-point gap between themselves and second-place Manchester City.
Spurs will be aiming to leverage manager Thomas Frank's pragmatic approach for a famous result away from home as they seek to separate themselves from a group of five teams level on 18 points through 11 fixtures.
Premier League Player News & Updates
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal and Tottenham have met 211 times, dating back to 1896 when Arsenal, then known as Woolwich Arsenal, earned a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in a United League match.
The Gunners have dominated the all-time series, winning 89 times and drawing on 55 occasions.
More recently, Arsenal has quashed any notion of a competitive rivalry as they've earned seven wins and one draw across the last 10 derbies.
Fixture Trivia
Question: In Premier League play, who is Arsenal's all-time leading scorer versus Tottenham?
Gameweek 11 Trivia: Which Manchester City goalkeeper made three saves in the penalty shootout that decided the 2016 League Cup Final?
Betting Odds and Predictions for Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur Match
Premier League Odds Comparisons
Moneyline Odds
DraftKings: ARS -245 Draw +370, TOT +650
FanDuel: ARS -290 Draw +370, TOT +650
BetMGM: ARS -250 Draw +360, TOT +700
Bet365: ARS -250 Draw +375, TOT +700
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RECENT FORM
Arsenal (DWWWW) had won 10 successive fixtures across all competitions before drawing to Sunderland ahead of the international break. Over their last five matches (all competitions), the Gunners have outscored their opponents 10-2.
Tottenham (DWLLW) are on a roller-coaster run of form that has seen them earn seven points from their last five Premier League fixtures. However, Spurs have been strong away from home, as they are unbeaten on the road this season (four wins, one draw) in the league.
FORMATIONS
Arsenal have worked to perfect their high-possession system, buoyed by Viktor Gyokeres's arrival in North London and paired with reinforcements in the holding midfield positions. Expect Arteta to use a base 4-2-3-1 formation, giving his team the ability to control the ball and push forward in front of goalkeeper David Raya.
Tottenham typically deploy a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation to begin fixtures under Frank. A key aspect of Spurs' identity is to establish an organized and aggressive press when out of possession in an effort to hunt for opponent turnovers. When Tottenham opt to sit deep, look for a 4-5-1 shape as they attempt to stunt any fluidity in the opponent midfield. When looking to push forward, Frank will shift the team into a 3-5-2.
CONFIRMED LINEUP NOTES & INJURY NEWS
Premier League Predicted & Confirmed Lineups
Arsenal City Injury News & Lineup Notes
The Gunners enter the fixture nursing a host of injuries. Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) have been long-term absences. Each remain out for the fixture Sunday with an eye on returning sometime in December. To compound their injury woes, Gabriel (thigh) picked-up a knock while on international duty and is set for a month on the sidelines. Look for summer-signing Cristhian Mosquera to fill the void in central defense.
In addition to his long-term absences, Arteta is managing a list of nagging injuries across his roster.
Riccardo Calafiori (hip) returned early from international camp with Italy. However, according to The Standard, Arsenal are "not anticipating a big problem or issue." Expect to see the Italian in the starting XI and showing his patented versatility from the left-back role. If Calafiori is limited, look for Myles Lewis-Skelly to spell the hobbled defender.
In attack, Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) is the Gunners' most consequential question mark. The striker suffered an injury on Nov. 1 versus Burnley and has not seen the pitch since. If Gyokeres is not available, look for Mikel Merino to play a false-nine role for Arteta in the striker's stead.
Noni Madueke (knee) and Gabriel Martinelli (strain) each look poised for a return to active duty. Madueke has not featured since late September, and Martinelli's last appearance came in October. Anticipate each to be reintegrated slowly after extended absences and be available off the bench Sunday.
Little update has been given on club captain Martin Odegaard (knee) since he was forced off early versus West Ham United on Oct. 4. If Odegaard is unexpectedly available for the rivalry showdown at the Emirates, look for him to play a role off of the substitute's bench.
Tottenham Injury News & Lineup Notes
Tottenham enter their fixture with even more injuries.
Defensively, Radu Dragusin (knee), Kota Takai (quad), and Ben Davies (groin) are each considered game-time decisions. Dragusin is likely to return to a bench role after playing in a closed-door friendly versus Leyton Orient in his journey to return to fitness. Takai is anticipated to serve in a depth role upon his return, but he picked up a quad injury while working to return from a foot issue. Davies has not yet featured this season, and he suffered a hamstring injury at the beginning of October that was set to leave him out for a matter of weeks.
In the middle of the park, Lucas Bergvall (concussion) must clear protocol before being deemed fit to play. In his absence, high-profile summer signing Xavi Simons has seen an uptick in his minutes. After a month out, expect Simmons to be named to the starting XI regardless of Bergvall's status.
Further up the pitch, Randal Kolo Muani is back after fracturing his jaw before the international break. Striker Dominic Solanke (ankle) will remain out ahead of Saturday as he continues his recovery following surgery.
Mohammed Kudus (undisclosed) should be available for the clash against Arsenal, coach Thomas Frank said to the media, according to Football London. Expect Kudus to lead the right-attacking flank, opposite of Wilson Odobert. Centrally, look for Simons to play the No. 10 role in support of striker Richarlison.
James Maddison (knee), Archie Gray (calf), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), and Yves Bissouma (ankle) are each considered long-term absences.
KEY MATCHUPS
Bukayo Saka versus Destiny Udogie
Arsenal's star winger is likely to be tasked with generating the Gunners' attacking threat Sunday. Saka rattled off nine shots (seven on goal), created four chances and scored twice in his two appearances (two starts) preceding the international break. The winger will contend with Udogie who is likely to be included in a Premier League starting XI for the first time since Oct. 4. Udogie's ability to leverage his positioning and superior strength should determine who gets the better of this matchup.
Eberechi Eze & Merino versus Spurs' central defense
Arsenal will likely be forced into playing with a false nine, which is an intriguing battle with Tottenhams center-backs. Presumably, Merino and Eze will have free roam as they look to occupy spaces and receive the ball between the Tottenham backline and double-pivot. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will need to exercise positional discipline as the Gunners attempt to draw the central defenders closer to Joao Palhinha and Pape Sarr to create space in behind.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Leandro Trossard's performances haven been massively important for Arsenal's success during the first third of the Premier League . The versatile attacker has scored twice and assisted twice over his last five appearances (five starts) across all competitions. I anticipate Trossard to out-duel Spurs' full-back Pedro Porro and to combine with the likes to Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi to create unique attacking angles from which the Gunners may attack the opponent goal.
RESULT
Arsenal 2 - Tottenham Hotspur 1
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Arsenal: Nov. 30 at Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur: Nov. 29 vs Fulham
