The Premier League returns with a bang this weekend with Arsenal hosting Tottenham in the 192nd edition of the North London Derby.
Venue: Emirates Stadium (London)
Key Statistics
Arsenal have won their last six home games.
They have scored 2+ goals in each of their home league games this season.
The Gunners are the third highest scoring side in the league this season.
Only Manchester City (23) have scored more goals than Tottenham in the league this season (18).
The visitors are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League (EPL) games (W9, D4).
They have won only one of four away games this season in all competitions (D1, L1).
Head to head
Arsenal have the bragging rights in this fixture as they have won 79 times in head-to-head games against Tottenham who have 61 wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Arsenal: W-W-L-W-W
Tottenham: W-L-W-W-D
Arsenal
Early Premier League pacesetters Arsenal will look to continue their strong start to the new season when they host fierce rivals Tottenham for the 61st time in the Premier League era.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been the most exciting team in the country this season and have their status as the league leaders after seven games to show for it (W6, L1).
While the likes of Liverpool and, to an extent, Manchester City struggled, the Gunners began the season with five consecutive wins. But their wings were clipped by Manchester United in Round six, leaving many questioning their preparedness for a title charge.
However, they bounced back last time out to win Brentford 3-0 and keep their place at the top of the table; with that game marked by the record-breaking appearance of 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri who made history by becoming the youngest ever player to feature in the PL.
Arteta will now hope that his young entertainers will continue from where they left off before the international break even though their chances of doing so has been complicated by a few injuries to key players.
But while Thoams Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney continue to struggle for fitness, team captain Martin Odegaard is expected to start this game as Arsenal look to make it seven league wins in a row at the Emirates.
Possible Arsenal starting line-up
Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Takehiro Tomiyasu; Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi-Lokonga; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.
Injured: Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny
Doubtful: Cedric Soares, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney
Suspended: None
Tottenham
Tottenham can go top of the Premier League table this Saturday, albeit temporarily if they can take down fierce rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Antonio Conte’s side come into this tie sitting in third place, one point behind Arsenal, having won five of their opening seven games (D2).
Their last result just before the international break was particularly exciting as they came from a goal down to beat Leicester City 6-2 in a crazy game that saw South Korean striker Son Heung-min come from the bench to score a second-half hattrick.
The game also extended Spurs’ unbeaten run in the league to 13 games (W9, D4) and was the fourth time they had scored 2+ goals in a league game this season.
Since his arrival at the North London side, Conte has transformed Tottenham into a strong team who are now considered title challengers. His side will want to show how far they have gone when they face an Arsenal side they beat 3-0 the last time both sides met.
Possible Tottenham starting line-up
Fraser Foster; Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet; Emerson Royal, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic; Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Harry Kane.
Injured: Ben Davies, Lucas Moura
Doubtful: Cristian Romero, Hugo Lloris
Suspended: None
Prediction
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
