Premier League Preview: North London Derby – Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

The North London Derby returns this Wednesday night as Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. With plenty on the line for both sides, this clash promises intensity, drama, and potential game-changing moments. Arsenal aim to protect their unbeaten Premier League home record this season, while Spurs look to turn their recent inconsistency into a statement victory.

Having won four of the last five North London derbies, The Gunners are eager to extend their superior form against Spurs. Tottenham last triumphed in the North London derby in May 2022, when they claimed a 3-0 home win over their arch rivals. 

Arsenal: Seeking Redemption on Home Turf

Although Arsenal have enjoyed a strong Premier League campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side enter the derby following a tough week. Eliminated from the FA Cup by Manchester United and faltering in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Newcastle United, the Gunners have been searching for their usual attacking sharpness. Furthermore, injuries have compounded Mikel Arteta’s problems, with Gabriel Jesus suffering a devastating knee injury against United, potentially sidelining him for months.

The Emirates has remained a fortress in Premier League play, with Arsenal conceding no goals in their last four home league games. However, their toothless recent performances in other competitions have raised concerns, particularly with injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and youngster Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta’s men must bounce back to avoid a third consecutive defeat – a scenario not seen since January 2024 (if we include the penalty-shootout loss to United).

Arsenal’s injury woes continue, with Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all ruled out. Midfield dynamo Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard will shoulder creative and defensive responsibilities, while Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are all competing to lead the attack, assuming that Kai Havertz should keep his starting spot, despite his poor form. Arteta just doesn’t have many varieties to rotate his attacking line right now, which suggests that Arsenal could be active on the January transfer market. 

Tottenham: Searching for Consistency Amid Challenges

Tottenham Hotspur approach this clash with their own set of challenges. Despite progressing in the FA Cup with a 3-0 extra-time victory over National League side Tamworth, Ange Postecoglou’s team looked far from convincing in regulation time. This performance followed an impressive League Cup first-leg win over Liverpool, highlighting Spurs’ unpredictable form.

Defensively fragile on the road, Spurs have conceded in 25 consecutive Premier League visits to Arsenal. Their attack, however, remains a potent weapon, with the likes of Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke posing significant threats. Tottenham need to rediscover their cutting edge and capitalize on Arsenal’s vulnerabilities to climb from their bottom-half position in the league table – they currently sit 13th on 24 points.

A host of key players remain sidelined, including centre-back duo of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, as well as first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Elsewhere, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert are also ruled out. However, Richarlison could feature following his return from injury, while January signing Antonin Kinsky is expected to make his Premier League debut in goal, providing a fresh challenge in the heated derby atmosphere.

Possible Starting Lineups of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur 

Arsenal: David Raya – Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney – Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice – Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli. (4-3-3) 

Tottenham Hotspur: Antonin Kinsky – Pedro Porro, Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Djed Spence – Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, James Maddison – Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min. (4-3-3) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

The North London Derby is never short on excitement, and both Arsenal and Tottenham have plenty to prove. Arsenal will look to restore their dominance and keep pace with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, while Spurs aim to build momentum with a crucial away victory. Expect fireworks at the Emirates as two of English football’s fiercest rivals collide.

The latest betting odds from Everygame on Wednesday morning reflect Arsenal’s status as strong favorites for this North London clash. The Gunners are listed at -286, indicating confidence in their unbeaten Premier League home form this season. Meanwhile, Tottenham are considered underdogs at +700, a tempting proposition for those banking on an upset. The odds for a draw stand at +450, appealing to those expecting a tightly contested affair. 

With both teams dealing with considerable injuries and inconsistencies, this North London derby offers intriguing value across all outcomes for bettors looking to stake a claim. Yet, unlike their last meeting in September, we believe that both teams are capable of exploiting each other’s mistakes and we expect goals at both ends at the Emirates. 

Spooky Express Free Play: Both teams to score – Yes -133 at EveryGame for 8/10 Units