LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Thomas Partey of Arsenal celebrates with team mate Granit Xhaka after scoring their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Tottenham vs Arsenal: 3 things to look out for in North London Derby
by Adam Schultz
Arsenal take on Tottenham in the next instalment of the North London Derby this weekend and, as always, there’s plenty on the line. The Gunners have won five of their last six as they sit top of the league by five points.
For Spurs in their last five, the form line is vastly different. Two wins, two losses and a draw. That isn’t exactly winning football. But when it comes to this fixture, the form line can be thrown out the window, even if Arsenal are a whopping 11 points ahead of their rivals.
Tottenham vs Arsenal: 3 things to look out for in North London Derby
So, what are some things to look for vs. Spurs on Sunday?
1. Can Arsenal finally curtail Harry Kane and Son Heung-min?
Kane has scored 14 goals against the Gunners in the Premier League, while Son (four goals and five assists in 11 Premier League games) has also had plenty of success in this fixture.
Fortunately, though, Son’s form has fallen off a cliff this season and he currently looks like a shell of the player that snagged the Golden Boot last term. Kane, on the other hand, remains imperious. He’s scored 15 Premier League goals this season, a figure trumped only by Erling Haaland.
This pair has often wrought havoc in N17 against the Gunners, so slowing them down will go a long way in securing a positive result.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/gA0270aGhy
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/12/tottenham-vs-arsenal-3-things-look-out-for/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1612832904601825281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Eddie Nketiah has stepped up rather well in Jesus’ absence and will need to do so again on Sunday. Two goals in his last three Premier League games and a brace against Oxford United in the FA Cup point to a striker in form.</p>
<p>But he must bring that form into the North London Derby on Sunday.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/12/tottenham-vs-arsenal-3-things-look-out-for/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Thing to look for #3 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131661 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/12/tottenham-vs-arsenal-3-things-look-out-for/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1243666325.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1243666325.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1243666325-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Arsenal won the first derby of the season 3-1. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Can Arsenal do the league double over Spurs?</h2>
<p>Not since the 2013/14 Premier League season has Arsenal completed the double over their fiercest rivals. Since then, the two sides have shared the spoils, with both teams generally winning on their home deck.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s side gets the chance to do a proper number on a Spurs side; one that’s not in the best form (although they did hammer Crystal Palace 4-0 in their last outing) and has <a title="3 key players Tottenham could be without for Sunday’s North London Derby" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/12/tottenham-vs-arsenal-3-things-look-out-for/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/11/3-key-players-tottenham-without-sundays-north-london-derby/" rel="">several injury concerns heading into the clash</a>.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="vlXV9nrxWL"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/12/tottenham-vs-arsenal-3-things-look-out-for/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/11/arsenal-fabio-vieira-is-slowly-moving-in-the-right-direction/">Fabio Vieira is slowly moving in the right direction</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It won’t be easy, but if Arsenal can secure three points, it would open up a 14-point gap between themselves and Tottenham, and they will do something not achieved in nearly a decade… doing the league double of their bitter rivals.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
