Tottenham vs Arsenal 21/10 Bet Builder – Mark O’Haire
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was critical of his team after seeing the Gunners blow a 2-0 lead in dramatic fashion to draw at rock-bottom Wolves in midweek. The Premier League leaders missed the opportunity to move seven points clear with a lacklustre display that will once again spark doubts.
Speaking post-match, Arteta said: “What we did in the second half was nowhere near the standard that we have to play to win a game in the Premier League. There are certain things, certain basics that today we were very far from our level, and when you don't perform you can get punished, and we got punished.”
Arsenal will now look to dust themselves down ahead of a quick turnaround and a trip to arch-rivals Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. Spurs will be making their first appearance in 10 days, as well as their first since Thomas Frank’s sacking, and Igor Tudor’s appointment as head coach until the end of the season.
Double Chance –
Arsenal or Draw
Arsenal are the shortest-priced favourites for an away North London derby in well over a decade and despite their midweek setback, remain mighty tough to defeat. The Gunners have lost just four Premier League away days in 32, whilst Tottenham have tabled only four home league triumphs in 27, keeping six clean sheets in 52 Premier League outings here as hosts.
Total Goals – Under 4.5
Just one of the last 14 North London derby dates in Tottenham have produced 5+ strikes with those games averaging 2.50 goals. Meetings between the rivals have tended to produce plenty, though most of the high-scoring showdowns have occurred at The Emirates. Meanwhile, all bar seven of their combined 53 league dates have gone under 4.5.
Total Cards –
Over 4.5
Cards are always appealing in North London derby match-ups – 15 of the past 20 meetings have produced four or more with 12 of those tussles hitting 5+. Seven of the past 11 head-to-heads in Tottenham have featured at least five bookings and a repeat stands-out with Peter Bankes officiating. The arbiter is already averaging 4.39 cards per-game this term.
Team Corners – Tottenham Over 2.5
It’s difficult to know how Tottenham will set-up and approach this fixture under Igor Tudor, though the Spurs corner lines still appear overpriced having hit at least two in matches against Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea. In contrast, Arsenal have faced at least three corners in 10 of their 14 away Premier League days this season.
