Arsenal VS Tottenham Hotspur Match Prediction
2018-12-19
19:45:00
Arsenal
VS
Tottenham Hotspur
Our Prediction Tip
Arsenal will win this match.
2018-12-1919:45:00 Arsenal will win this match.
Arsenal’s win at the start of the month was their 82nd North London derby triumph – 19 more than Spurs’ total of 63, while there have been 51 draws. Arsenal’s dominance is thanks in no small part to their home record, meanwhile – Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez scoring in a 2-0 home win last season before the 4-2 triumph this month. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, either side of Eric Dier and Harry Kane hitting back for the visitors, and Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira earned another Arsenal win. Spurs have now won one of their last 26 league appearances at Arsenal. They did win at Wembley last year, however, courtesy of a Kane goal. Here are the results of their last five competitive matches:
02/12/2018: Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur
10/02/2018: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Arsenal
18/11/2017: Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
30/04/2017: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Arsenal
06/11/2016: Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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An open game last time these two teams met ended in yet another Arsenal home win and, on home soil again this time out, the hosts will expect to bounce back from Sunday’s loss to Southampton.
They were hamstrung by absences at the back, through suspension and injury last weekend, but have key players available again this time.
Mesut Ozil, at the other end, could also return and Alexandre Lacazette – a scorer in the last North London derby – also merits a place back in the starting XI.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the goals too, Arsenal certainly have the attacking prowess to potentially put another four past Spurs.
Spurs are not helped by Jan Vertonghen’s injury at the back, particularly given Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez have only just returned themselves. Just in front of them, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier, their first-choice holding-midfield partnership, are also both out.
Arsenal can therefore take advantage as they return to a more familiar formation and starting XI for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Having reached the final last year, where they lost to Manchester City, Arsenal start this game against their rivals – thanks especially to their home record against Spurs – as favourites to win.
Arsenal are narrow favourites for this fixture, as they were the last time the two teams met – Bet365 are offering a best price of 8/5 on the hosts to win.
There were plenty of goals in the league fixture and both teams to score has been set at 18/35 by 10Bet.
Arsenal to win and BTTS is worth a best price of 16/5 with Betfair, and over 2.5 goals will return 6/10 with Betfair and Betway.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice in the league fixture and is a best price of 7/5 with Betway to score at any time, while Harry Kane – who has more goals in this fixture in the Premier League era than anyone else – is 11/10 with 888sport.
Alexandre Lacazette could be worth a shout too, having scored in the league fixture and given he is pushing for a return to the starting XI. The Frenchman is a best price of 29/20 with 888sport.
The last meeting between these two teams proved a classic, with six goals in all, but on Arsenal soil it is hard to overlook the hosts given Spurs’ poor away record in recent North London derbies.
Alexandre Lacazette was introduced as a second-half substitute last time out and Mesut Ozil returned for the final 20 minutes and both will be pushing to start this time out. At the other end of the pitch, Laurent Koscielny may not be risked for what would be his third game in a week since coming back from long-term injury. Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are both back from suspension and can slot in. Hector Bellerin picked up another injury, however and Stephan Lichsteiner could move back to right-back.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Scored twice the last time these two teams met and is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 11 for the campaign.
Alexandre Lacazette – Resurgent form included the winner against Qarabag and he is surely now meriting a return to the starting line-up up front.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Scored both goals against Southampton despite the defeat and will be a key playmaker in behind the striker.
Arsenal lost for the first time in 23 games last weekend, but they have won all three home games this month – including the 4-2 defeat of Spurs. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice and Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira were also on target in the second-half. Their last two home games have both ended in 1-0 wins – Torreira scoring the winner against Huddersfield before Lacazette struck against Qarabag. Last weekend, however, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s double twice cancelled out Danny Ings’ goals for Southampton but a late winner ended Arsenal’s unbeaten streak.
Eric Dier is out until the new year after surgery to remove his appendiz, while Mousa Dembele is also still out in defensive midfield. Juan Foyth could be available, as could Serge Aurier and Davinson Sanchez – the former and latter both potential replacements for injured Jan Vertonghen.
Harry Kane – Fresh from third place in the Sports Personality of the Year award, the England captain has eight goals against Arsenal.
Christian Eriksen – Scored the last-minute winner at Wembley to see off stubborn Burnley at the weekend.
Son Heung-Min – Back in the goals lately, striking against both Southampton and Leicester City after a slower return on the back of his Asian Games success with South Korea.
While Arsenal ended their winning streak at the start of the month, despite Harry Kane and Eric Dier having put them 2-1 up, Spurs have won three in a row in the league since and added a crucial Champions League draw at Barcelona for good measure – which saw them sneak in to the second round. Lucas Moura scored the equaliser in their 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp and they left it even later against Burnley at the weekend – Christian Eriksen finally breaking the deadlock in stoppage time.
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