Form means nothing in a North London Derby

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Tottenham - Premier League - 06.11.2016

Let’s thank our Bulgarian friends for giving us just enough of a wake-up call to jolt us alive; we were in a groove but at risk of falling into a rut, and Ludogorets' two goals on Tuesday reminded us that, despite our enviable form since Opening Day, we can’t just waltz into a match, say “we’re the Arsenal” and watch the other squad cower in fear. Making such a mindset worse, Tottenham haven’t won since defeating Man City, drawing three Prem matches and losing in the League Cup and in the Champions League as well. However, it’s a North London Derby—so form and logic go out the window.

Speaking of lacking in logic, there have been many Gooners salivating at hosting a Tottenham side shorn of its talisman Kane and of its defensive stalwart Alderweireld. Add in the possible absence of Lamela, and it starts to look like a recipe for a cakewalk. If memory serves, however, we’d do well to remember that the last time we faced a bitter rival similarly shorn, we had our arses handed to us courtesy of Marcus Rashford and others too young to have had their first shave.

After all, Tottenham do boast the lowest goals-conceded total in the Prem (5), and, paradoxically, playing away from White Hart Lane might actually be a boon to them. The larger pitch at Old Trafford might be forcing them to adapt to pitchers larger and less claustrophobic than the lane. Even if this didn’t bear fruit against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, Pochettino is surely learning to train his squad in how to press across a larger area, something that could prove problematic to us on Sunday. The Argentinian has after all proven himself quite adept at preparing his squads for facing Arsenal, whether it’s been Southampton or Tottenham.

Then again, his task is somewhat larger than it’s been in recent seasons. The shock of conceding twice in five minutes, as we did on Tuesday, might have been enough in the past to demoralise us so thoroughly that we’d go into a tailspin, dropping points not just that match but in several to follow. However, there’s a new spirit in this squad—less brittle, more resilient, hungrier, stubborn even. Instead of caving, we mounted a rousing comeback that might matter more in the long run than the points we salvaged.

LAST 3

• Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (05.03.2016)
• Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham (08.11.2015)
• Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal (23.09.2015)

FACTFILE

• These two clubs have faced each other 191 times with Arsenal winning 80 of them. It might have been more on both counts, but Tottenham have twice been relegated.
• Just one of Arsenal's Premier League wins over Spurs came before Arsene Wenger took charge—in 1993.
• The last two NLDs at the Emirates have ended in 1-1 draws with Tottenham scoring first each time.

INJURIES

Welbeck is of course out, as is Perez. Gibbs, Monreal, Cazorla, and Walcott face late fitness tests.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Čech; Gibbs, Koscielny, Mustafi, Bellerín; Coquelin, Ramsey;  Alexis, Özil, Walcott; Giroud.

Expect a typically fevered pitch, but one in which the Arsenal emerge victorious.

GOONERSPHERE'S PREDICTION

Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham

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