Tottenham Hotspur are all set to play hosts to city - specifically North London - rivals Arsenal in Sunday’s evening showdown fixture. Spurs are on a hot streak of form (despite the FA cup setback against Chelsea) and will be looking to end their White Hart Lane days on a high, before moving to the new stadium in August 2018.
They have been sanctioned permission to play the home games of the 2017/18 season at Wembley, which means that this North London Derby will be the last one to be played at the Lane as we know it now.
Arsenal have been inconsistent and injury-plagued but their recent upturn in form must have given Gunners fans hope. Whether this derby truly lives up to the hype with local rivalry shadowing the bigger scheme of things (albeit for a short while) as form and logic go out of the window remains to be seen.
In the run-up to one of the most looked-forward games of the weekend (or season?!) which will have a lot of say in the title race as well that of the top four, we take a look at five reasons why Spurs have the upper hand over Arsenal in this one.
#5. Title tilt can prove to be crucial extra motivation
There is no other way to say this – the hosts have a lot more than ‘just derby pride’ to play for today. Sure, derby rivalries are unique but this time, it is not just about who is better in North London.
With just 4 points separating Chelsea and second-placed Spurs, and both having played the same number of games, the home side need a win to stay in the title race (the table says there is still one, you lot!).
The Blues face a somewhat tricky outing to Everton earlier today afternoon and a win plus anything other than 3 points for Spurs could virtually put paid to any aspirations the Lilywhites may have of becoming champions.
If a title challenge is not enough motivation for Spurs, there is more.
St. Totteringham’s day – celebrated by Arsenal fans as a way of taunting and mocking their rivals for not finishing above them since Wenger took over - could be ended this season.
Spurs have not finished above Arsenal since 1995; the hosts are 14 points ahead of the Gunners having played one more game and maximum points against the Gunners will guarantee them a league place above Wenger’s charges.
While Mauricio Pochettino may publicly deny that finishing above Arsenal is his target – the title is – it will certainly be playing on his and the players’ minds.
Also Read: Tottenham ambitions bigger than beating Arsenal, says Kane
#4. The impeccable record at the Lane this season
The White Hart Lane is a fortress that has been breached for goals on a scattered basis by opponents, but not one of them has managed to take away all three points this season. This record makes Spurs the only team in the league to remain unbeaten this season on home turf, a massive achievement in itself.
That of course, is not all. Sunday’s derby hosts have won 15 of their home games so far and drawn just 2, with Liverpool and Leicester City the beneficiaries who managed to take something away; it is interesting to note that both these ties came fairly early in the season.
Currently, Spurs are on a 12-game winning streak at home and most visitors have failed to score at the Lane; it is at this venue that Arsenal face the daunting prospect of salvaging their pride and the season!
Arsene Wenger and his players have their task cut out in the quest to stop the Lilywhite juggernaut but can they spoil the party? Let’s wait and watch, shall we!
Also Read: EPL 2016/17: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal, Combined XI
#3. Tactics and form can help see off the visitors
The Spurs manager possesses the tactical acumen to restrain Arsenal and get the best out of his side. After all, they did not happen to bring an end to Chelsea’s unbeaten run on the basis of luck.
Pochettino sprung a surprise on Antonio Conte by resorting to a 3-man backline, reinforcing the midfield with impetus coming from the wings.
That his charges executed his tactics to perfection and ran out 2-0 winners against a form team speaks volumes about the mentality and attitude that the Argentine has managed to instil in the players. Ahead of the derby, Spurs are definitely the form team going into the fixture with 8 consecutive league wins.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been inconsistent and patchy, with injury worries in defence as well as midfield for Wenger. History offers no consolation either; the Gunners last won at the Lane in March 2014, over 8 prior Premier League visits, drawing 3 and losing the remaining 4.
The home side have injury worries of their own in Mousa Dembele, Danny Rose and Harry Winks but Pochettino has previously demonstrated his ability to dig deep and emerged with credit.
#2. Spurs have a miserly defence that can withstand a relatively patchy Arsenal
The Lilywhites have conceded just 22 goals across the 33 league fixtures played this season, turning into the meanest and one of the most impressive defensively organised units in the Premier League.
Opposition teams have scored a paltry 8 goals at the White Hart Lane over 17 fixtures that Spurs have played at home in 2016/17. Of these 17 games, 11 have ended with a clean sheet for the hosts, i.e. 65% of the time.
The Gunners will have a tough nut to crack when they encounter the disciplined Spurs backline; also considering the visitors’ possession-based style of play, they are likely to be vulnerable to breezy counterattacks courtesy of a very able Lilywhites side.
Additionally, despite a recovery in form, the Gunners have lost 4 of their last 5 away games with the saving grace coming most recently against Middlesbrough. The more shocking aspect is that the visitors have conceded 13 goals during this five-game run and scored only 5 which included a no-show against Crystal Palace.
That should be reasonable cause for concern for Arsene Wenger against the league’s best defence at this stage of the season.
#1. A fit and firing frontline
If you thought a lean and mean defence meant sitting back and simply absorbing pressure, think again.
Spurs’ goal-scoring record is commendable and on par with Chelsea, with both teams having scored 69 goals from 33 outings this season. Only Liverpool have scored more – the Reds’ 70 coming from 34 games.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are the toast of the home crowd and the three have proved their worth to the manager and club this season. With 20 goals and 6 assists to his name, Kane is the undisputed king of hearts but Alli and Eriksen have played their part for the team as well.
Alli has 16 league goals and 7 assists to his name while Eriksen has been the main provider with 6 goals and 12 assists.
That these three players are fit and in fine form should be a shot in the arm for Pochettino as he looks to take Spurs beyond mid-table to the upper echelons of the league. It is also indeed amazing that he has made credit-worthy progress with a young team whose average first team age is among the lowest in the Premiership.
Add to this Wenger’s worries with Shkodran Mustafi out and Laurent Koscielny not 100% fit and there is enough cause for concern in the visiting camp.
