Arsenal vs Tottenham: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

Mo Elneny and the gang went berserk after the Egyptian's screamer went in off the post against Olympiakos. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Arsenal vs Tottenham
Emirates Stadium
5:30pm

We’ve seen all shades that ever exist with Arsenal this season, the good, the bad and the damn right ugly, especially from needless unforced errors and the self-destruct buttons, but the North London Derby is one that doesn’t respect form, the question is who wants it more?

Tottenham Hotspur are on the rise, their red hot form coincides with the return to form of Gareth Bale and Harry Kane can’t stop scoring.

Considering his blistering form in this fixture, it’s a matter of how many for the Three Lions striker.

Arsenal is heading into this fixture of huge significant on the back of a 3-1 win away in the Europa League, a big result considering the fact that the tournament presents the only realistic route to Europe for Arsenal as they currently languish in 10^th.

Incidentally, Spurs also beat Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday with two Harry Kane goals, handing Jose Mourinho’s side the first leg advantage.

In the premier league, the White half of North London is not only better placed, they also hold the momentum after a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the reverse fixture.

The deadly duo of Harry Kane and Son celebrating a goal for Tottenham

Harry Kane is the leading scorer in this fixture, he loves the North London Derby and it will take lots of discipline for the erratic and unstable Arsenal defense to keep him out.

And in case you’re wondering if the England captain is the only suspect, a certain mercenary from Madrid is in town.

Arsenal must win this game or lose the North London bragging rights altogether.

But they have to do this against a manager that enjoys playing them, you might say the times have changed but Mikel Arteta has lost two in two against Mourinho, has anything changed?

Man for man, it should be even but determination will always be different, for every Kane, Heung Min Son and Bale firepower, there’s an equal Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka to match from Arsenal, but Arteta might opt for Willian, which on paper shouldn’t be a problem.

Willian isn’t the most popular at Arsenal but his numbers of late say otherwise, you can actually make a case against him.

If Arsenal is actually planning for the future and asking fans to be patient, then the team should be gravitating towards Pepe, Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Reis Nelson.

Spurs won the first leg 2-0 but Arsenal dominated the second half, Mourinho will score one and then go on and defend it.

it’s a style that will ruin him if he tries that with Arsenal that wakes up better in the second half of recent, it will be a cracker, that’s one thing the neutrals can rest and be assured of.

There’s an incentive for Spurs to win, they can gatecrash top four, there’s an incentive for Arsenal, bragging rights and momentum, the question is: Who wants it more?