The highly anticipated north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is set to take place this Sunday, with bragging rights on the line. While some consider Arsenal to be the underdogs in this matchup, their midfield concerns, including the absence of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice’s suspension, are significant blows. Both teams have a lot at stake in this game – Ange Postecoglou’s Arsenal could use a statement victory after a frustrating start to the season, while dropped points for the Gunners would see them fall further behind Manchester City.
One key battle to watch out for is between Tottenham’s new £65m striker Dominic Solanke and Arsenal’s formidable centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel. Solanke will be eager to make an impact on his home debut and open his account against their bitter rivals. However, Saliba and Gabriel have proven themselves against top-quality attackers before and won’t be intimidated by Tottenham’s attack.
Another crucial battle will take place in midfield. With Odegaard likely absent for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta may opt for experience by bringing Jorginho into the team alongside Thomas Partey. Partey will have a vital role without Rice by his side but may struggle defensively when forced to run towards their own goal.
Tottenham will look to exploit Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities through wide areas with players like Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson creating separation and crossing into the box. It will be crucial for Arsenal’s defenders to position themselves astutely in order to prevent Spurs’ crosses from reaching Solanke.
Kai Havertz could play a pivotal role for Arsenal as he aims to penetrate Tottenham’s high defensive line with his ghostly runs from deep positions. However, Micky van de Ven has proven himself as a recovery defender who can match Havertz on the ground but struggles aerially.
Set-pieces could also prove decisive in this matchup. Last season, Arsenal scored 20 goals from set-pieces while Tottenham struggled defensively against them. The Gunners may employ a similar strategy that worked well in their previous encounter – compact defense, transitions, and exploiting set-piece opportunities.
Both teams have shown vulnerability when defending set-pieces this season, making it an area where either side can capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Sunday’s north London derby promises plenty of excitement as these bitter rivals go head-to-head once again.
