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Bitter rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will clash at the Emirates in the first North London derby of the 2021-22 season.
After getting their seasons off to contrasting starts, Arsenal look to be on the path to recovery while Tottenham Hotspur appear to be wilting. It's a match the supporters will undoubtedly savour. But for the managers in the dugout, anything short of a favourable outcome is almost unthinkable.
Tottenham Hotspur sit 10th in the Premier League table with nine points while Arsenal are 13th with six points after five rounds of games. There is a lot of pressure on both managers.
As we all know, form goes out the window when arch rivals lock horns in the Premier League. Players will be committed to giving it their all and then some, and that's the recipe for an enthralling encounter.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five reasons why Tottenham Hotspur will struggle against Arsenal.
#5 Arsenal's defensive resilience
The word resilient may be too rich to describe anything Arsenal have been up to in the new Premier League season. But the fact of the matter is that they have kept cleansheets in their last three games across all competitions.
Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes are starting to understand each other better. They allowed just a single shot on target against Norwich City. They did well against Burnley as well and the Gunners really had to dig their heels in to keep their physically domineering opponents at bay.
It's not much but the Gunners did shut out AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup as well. Save for the hiding they received after being reduced to 10-men against Manchester City, Arsenal haven't been all that defensively vulnerable. That could be a problem for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
#4 Tottenham Hotspur's goalscoring woes
After narrowly beating Manchester City, Wolves and Watford with a 1-0 scoreline, questions were asked of Spurs' sharpness in attack. They haven't really responded well and have since scored just four goals while conceding 10 in four matches.
They have missed the creativity and directness of Lucas Moura and will be happy to welcome him back. Steven Bergwijn's absence robs Spurs of a bit of dynamism in attack.
Santo's men have scored just three goals in five games so far. They have the second-worst attacking record in the league so far after Arsenal and Wolves, who have only scored two each. But Arsenal's two goals have come in their latest Premier League games while Spurs' came in the first three gameweeks.
#3 Arsenal have a fully fit squad
Mikel Arteta finally have a fully fit squad at his disposal. Mohamed Elneny returned to training earlier this week. The only question in front of the Arsenal manager is a stylistic one. The Gunners have been playing with Thomas Partey in defensive midfield with Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard operating in front of him.
But now that Xhaka is back from suspension, Arteta could opt for a midfield double pivot. In that case, Martin Odegaard will play as the number 10 behind the strikers. Smith Rowe could be pushed out to the left flank while Saka is deployed on the right.
An attack of Aubameyang, Saka, Martin Odegaard and Smith Rowe, backed by Xhaka and Partey, does have the look of a formidable and balanced unit.
#2 Tottenham Hotspur's poor away record against Arsenal
Arsenal won this fixture 2-1 last season. Spurs took the lead in the 33rd minute through Erik Lamela but Arsenal hit back strongly. Martin Odegaard opened the scoring for the Gunners and Alexandre Lacazette converted from the spot to collect all three points that day.
Spurs have won just one of their last 28 away games in the league against Arsenal. They have lost 16 and drawn 11. Arsenal haven't lost a home league match to Spurs since 2010.
The Gunners have been very protective of their home turf against their arch rivals and there's something about the occasion that brings the best out of them.
#1 Harry Kane's form
After all the drama surrounding his potential departure from the club, Harry Kane pledged allegiance to Tottenham Hotspur. That would have given the fans a lot of relief and helped Nuno Espirito Santo sleep better at night.
Kane had won the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker's Award in the 2020-21 season. There is no need to rattle on about the Englishman's importance to his side. However, the 28-year-old has scored just a single goal so far and that came in the League Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He has made four Premier League appearances so far but is yet to open his account. It is quite uncharacteristic of Kane and he has not been anywhere near his best. If Kane can kick into form, half of Spurs' problems will be sorted.
But the pressure to perform well in a high-profile derby might not exactly help.
Also Check Out: Tottenham Transfer News
