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Premier League: Tottenham vs Arsenal match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane

Friday 06 February 2015 18:01 GMT

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Arsenal and Spurs were inseparable when they met to contest the North London derby at the Emirates earlier in the season and another tight affair looks set to be on the cards tomorrow, considering the recent good form of the two sides.

Last out Arsenal put five past a hapless Aston Villa – Santi Cazorla once again stole the show with two assists and a goal from the spot, while Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil returned with goals in place of the injured Alexis Sanchez.

Meanwhile, Tottenham left the Hawthorns with all three points to put them two outside of the top four and hot on the heels of Arsenal. Harry Kane secured his 19th and 20th of the season at the expense of Tony Pulis’ new look Baggies, and he will be out to replicate a similar performance against the Gunners.

Aside from Kane a number of players have been effective in front of goal in the league for Spurs this season. Christian Eriksen has nine to his name and fellow midfielder Nacer Chadli has seven. Arsenal on the other hand come into the game having not conceded in three, with Francis Coquelin finding a new lease of life in the middle of the park.

KICK-OFF: Saturday 12:45

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Arsenal 1 (Oxlade-Chamberlain) Tottenham 1 (Chadli), Premier League, September 2014

Tottenham 0 Arsenal 1 (Rosicky), Premier League, March 2014

Arsenal 2 (Cazorla, Rosicky) Tottenham 0, FA Cup, January 2014

Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Hugo Lloris

Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in north London and a contender for No 1 in the Premier league, Lloris would stroll into the side and likely take the captain’s armband with him. Is this his last north-London derby? If Spurs miss out on Champions League football again this season, then the answer will lean towards yes – unless you believe the rumours linking him with a shock move to the Emirates.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Hector Bellerin

Possibly the best option of a tricky situation. The other candidates don’t offer a great deal in protection given the recent form of Kyle Walker and Calum Chambers, and Bellerin’s crossing prowess would likely merit inclusion anyway. However, the Spaniard’s beautiful finish in the 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa last Sunday sees him rewarded with a place in our best XI – and likely in Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Jan Vertonghen

Vertonghen’s future is much in the same boat as Lloris’s in that failure to break into the top four could result in his departure. However, Vertonghen has been a prominent figure in a much-changed since his arrival in 2012, and he also has a knack of getting forward and scoring goals himself – despite having two taken away from him in the 2-1 win over Sunderland – but it will be his ability to maintain the likes of Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla that will be needed on Saturday.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal’s best defender by far has only increased his worth with his performances since returning from injury. The Gunners suffered without his pace at the back and instinct to stop moves before they begin, and if he was to partner Vertonghen in the same defence, we reckon it would be a pretty hard task to create any chances, let alone score a goal.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Kieran Gibbs

The Englishman hasn’t had a solid run in the first-team due to injuries and rotation, but when he’s fully fit he offers Arsenal solidity on the left flank as well as an extra attacking option going forward. Danny Rose would offer more of a threat with the ball, especially with memories of his stunning striker in this fixture five years ago.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Aaron Ramsey

The Welshman hasn’t been at his best of late but that’s only due to the high standards he set last season where he enjoyed an brilliant run of games in front of goal. Part of that is due to dropping back from the advanced role he played in, but he remains a crucial part of the Arsenal side and when at his best can be very hard to stop from having a major influence on the result.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Santi Cazorla

One of the in-form players in the Premier League scored his sixth goal in eight games against Villa last week, and his incredible form has helped the Gunners reignite their campaign at a crucial time. Such is his impressive form that he comfortably keeps Mesut Özil out of the side.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Theo Walcott

His place in the side would likely go to Alexis Sanchez if he was fit, but Walcott’s return to action in recent weeks has seen a marked improvement in his last two outings against Bright and Hove Albion and Villa in which he scored his first Premier League goal in over a year. Spurs fans won’t be too kind to Walcott come Saturday though, given the last time they saw him he was giving them a 2-0 scoreline while being carried off on a stretcher.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Christian Eriksen

Spurs’ saviour has developed a Gareth Bale-esque knack for scoring crucial and often match-winning goals in the last 10 minutes of games. Not only that, but he’s starting to forge a talent for scoring free-kicks all angles that is proving fruitful for Spurs, especially in their recent up-turn in form. The Dane’s partnership with Harry Kane is a key reason for both players’ success this term.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Olivier Giroud

The Frenchman suffered injury at the start of the season, and when he returned to spark the Gunners into life, he got needlessly sent-off for a head-butt on Nedum Onouha in the win over QPR. However, he has returned, yet again, to score important goals against Liverpool, Manchester City and Villa, and will hope to continue that in the north London derby.

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Tottenham v Arsenal Best XI

Harry Kane

The red-hot Englishman couldn’t be left out of this side, could he? Kane scored a brace against West Brom last weekend to take his tally to 20 goals for the season, and stands as the top goalscorer in all competitions of any Premier League player. His ability to take his chances as and when they came about forced Mauricio Pochettino to select him in his starting line-up, and he’s fully repaid his manager’s faith by his rocketing goal tally.

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STATS…

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has scored four and assisted three in his last six Premier League appearances against Tottenham.

Tottenham and Arsenal have drawn a record 18 times in the Premier League.

Olivier Giroud is in great form and comes into the derby having netted five in his last six Premier League appearances.

Spurs come into the game unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches at home.

Tottenham have been unable to secure victory over Arsenal in the last four meetings and have only beaten them once in the last seven fixtures.

ODDS…

Tottenham to win: 9.4

Arsenal to win: 6.5

Draw: 5.2

TV: Live on BT Sport 1, Highlights on BBC1 at 10:30pm

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