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This weekend, we have a crucial North London derby between desperate for a win Tottenham and lately good looking Arsenal squad at Wembley!
Both teams have had a completely different week in terms of success entering this game. Whereas Tottenham have lost back to back games to Burnley and Chelsea away from home which essentially have taken them out of the title race and put them back into the race to finish in top , Arsenal have overcame a 0-1 deficit to reach the EL R16 and then backed that up with back to back Premier League wins against Southampton 2-0 and Bournemouth 5-1 which has moved them back into top 4 and within 4 points of their biggest rivals Spurs.
If Arsenal were to win this game, they would move within 1 point of Spurs and after being behind by 10, they could seriously make up a lot of ground within one week.
One thing that Spurs do got going, is they are back at Wembley where they’ve been fantastic since the end of January having won 4 straight while scoring 9 goals, 6 in their last 2 games here. Spurs have really been making Wembley a fortress lately.
And the ONE thing that Arsenal have not been able to do is win many away games lately. They’ve won just ONE of their last 7 league away games that being against the lowly Huddersfield and in total have just managed to pick up 5 of last 21 points on their travels in the Premier League. Away form is definitely something Arsenal still need to massively sort out because at home they’re nearly flawless.
Harry Kane and Son Heung Min are clear players to watch from Spurs. After not having anywhere near a good game against Chelsea, the clubs double digit scorers in the league are surely primed to have a good game. Kane has 8 goals in 9 apps against Arsenal so without a doubt he’ll turn up, expect Son to have a good game too as he’s been very rarely having bad games all season long. This duo will be key for Spurs to win.
Safe to say, for Arsenal their attacking duo are also the players to watch as Aubameyang and Lacazette have been scoring goals for fun. Both in double digits this season, Aubameyang the top scorer with 16, Lacazette has 12 and has bagged at least one goal in 5 of his last 6 league apps, they both scored against Bournemouth during midweek so they’re both on good form entering this weekend. They both also bagged goals against Spurs in the reverse league meeting.
Tottenham have struggled at Wembley in big games in the league however despite being a good home team this season overall. They have taken losses to Man Utd, Liverpool and Man City. Their only win came against Chelsea.
Arsenal have been awful in big away games. They lost 5-1 to Liverpool, 3-2 to Chelsea, 3-1 to Man City and drew 2-2 with Man Utd. A 0W 1D 3L record and 13 conceded goals definitely screams “AWFUL”. And as mentioned, Arsenal are just not a good away side which is their biggest worry here.
Arsenal and Tottenham faced off twice already this season, both meetings being at the Emirates with Arsenal winning 4-2 in the league after falling 1-2 behind, however Spurs bounced back in the EFL Cup with a 0-2 win meaning the clubs have split wins against each other so far this season.
It’s been a while since Arsenal last won a league game against Tottenham away from home that being in March 2014. Since, Spurs won 3 and there was 1 draw in the Premier League with Tottenham hosting. Spurs defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the only meeting at Wembley in the league so far last season.
Despite the contrast in forms in the past week in Arsenal’s favour, Spurs are bookies favourites to win this game at 2.10. Being back in front of their fans and with Arsenal not being a good away side it’s understandable why Spurs are still the favourites to win. Arsenal are offered at 3.70 to win while draw is tipped at 3.60. Odds based on Unibet.
Team News
Tottenham Hotspur: Dele Alli and Eric Dier could both miss out on the North London derby, Jan Vertonghen has had a hip problem and could also be out in this crucial game.
Arsenal: Ainsley Maitland-Niles is available, Stephan Lichtsteiner could return and Laurent Koscielny is questionable to play after picking up a knock against Bournemouth. Hector Bellerin is out for the season.
Betting Stats
Tottenham have covered 53.8% of their total goal overs at home this season (7-1-5).
However, Tottenham have only covered 15.4% of their 1st half goal overs at home this season which is 2nd worst in the league (2-1-10). MUCH better 2nd half goal scoring side.
Tottenham average 1.08 bookings per game at home in the league this season (14 bookings in 13 games).
Son Heung Min is Tottenham’s top scorer at Wembley in the league this season with 7 home goals. Harry Kane has 5 at home.
Tottenham have covered just 38.5% of their Handicaps at home this season (5-8).
Tottenham have covered 53.8% of their 1st half Handicaps at home this season (7-6).
Arsenal have covered 76.9% of their total goal overs away from home (10-1-2). That is the tied best percentage in the league by a team away from home.
Arsenal have also covered 76.9% of their 1st half goal overs away from home this season which is also the best percentage in the league (10-3).
Arsenal average 1.61 bookings away from home in the league this season (21 bookings in 13 games).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s top scorer away from home this season with 6 away league goals.
12 of 13 Arsenal’s away games have had BTTS this season. They’re yet to keep an away clean sheet in the Premier League.
Arsenal have only covered 38.5% of their Handicaps away from home this season (5-1-7).
Arsenal have only covered 23.1% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home this season which is a 2nd worst percentage in the Premier League (3-10).
KICK OFF – 2nd March 2019 – 12:30pm UK Time
