Premier League [Preview]: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur entertain Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby at the Wembley Stadium. Both Spurs and the Gunners are vying for a potential finish in the Champions League spots, and the match could have a significant say in the quest of the latter, who are presently five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Spurs come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw versus Liverpool at Anfield, whilst their cross-town rivals secured a comfortable 5-1 triumph over Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

Previous meeting:

The last outing between the sides was at the Emirate Stadium, where the Gunners clinched a 2-0 triumph earlier this campaign. Spurs lacked the intensity through the field, and the north London side capitalised with Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez finding the scoresheet in the first-half. The victory happened to be the Gunners’ first in their homeground in four-and-a-half years.

Players to watch for:

Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur: Once an Arsenal youth reject, Kane has progressed through the Spurs’ ranks to become one of the world’s most fearsome strikers. The England international has an excellent record versus the Gunners with six goals in seven appearances (transfermarkt), and he is likely to emerge as the main scoring threat for the hosts, being the league’s top-scorer. Kane converted a second-half penalty in the Gunners’ last trip to the old White Hart Lane.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal: The Gabon international has earned plenty of plaudits after bagging his maiden goal versus Everton. Aubameyang was not fully fit for the Toffees encounter, but he showed glimpses of his ability upfront as he created a couple of goalscoring opportunities for himself with his raw pace. Similarly to Kane, Aubameyang is an excellent finisher, and he will be tasked with finding the breakthrough with the limited chances on offer versus a disciplined Spurs defence. He has four goals in as many outings versus Tottenham Hotspur (transfermarkt).

Prediction:

Spurs have been impressive in the recent matches versus Manchester United and Liverpool, where they have picked up four points. However, we are anticipating a potential upset from the Gunners, who should have some feeling of home at the Wembley, owing to their recent FA Cup triumphs.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Arsenal

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