Arsenal vs Tottenham: 3 things to look for in first NLD of the season

early edition of the NLD this season</a>, and both teams are in serious form.</p> <p>The Gunners have won six of their opening seven games, losing just once to sit top of the league table, while Spurs are domestically unbeaten domestically so far, winning five of their seven games and drawing two.</p> <p>The last four league games between these two sides are evenly split at 2-2, with Spurs winning the last instalment 3-0 thanks to an early Rob Holding red card.</p> <h2>Arsenal vs Tottenham: 3 things to look for in first NLD of the season</h2> <p>The Gunners are a different proposition this season, though, and will look to keep their spot at the top of the Premier League.</p> <p>Here are three things to look out for on Saturday.</p> <h2>1. How Arsenal&#8217;s defence curtails Kane and Son</h2> <p>Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are two elite players that have been the bane of the Gunners over the years.</p> <p>Son has scored three times in the last four league meetings, while Kane has scored five in his previous seven. Aside from Erik Lamela in 2021 (rabona), Kane and Son have scored all of Tottenham&rsquo;s goals in the last four outings.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#11088;&#65039; Man of the Match, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@SpursOfficial&rsquo;s Harry Kane <br />His PL goal record v Arsenal, by season:<br />14-15 &#9917;&#65039;&#9917;&#65039;<br />15-16 &#9917;&#65039;&#9917;&#65039;<br />16-17 &#9917;&#65039;&#9917;&#65039;<br />17-18 &#9917;&#65039;<br />18-19 &#9917;&#65039;&#9917;&#65039;<br />19-20 &#9917;&#65039;<br />20-21 &#9917;&#65039;<br />21-22 &#9917;&#65039;&#9917;&#65039; <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://t.co/4Bxi20fiBc">pic.twitter.com/4Bxi20fiBc

<p>&mdash; Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/1524854087090593792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>How the likes of Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel, and, hopefully, Oleksander Zinchenko cope with the powerful duo will go a long way to determining the result.</p> <p>It is Arsenal&rsquo;s biggest test of the season so far.</p> <p><em>Continued on next slide&#8230;</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/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;Thing to look for #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_119484" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-119484 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1235518730.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mikel Arteta" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1235518730.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1235518730-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a fast start at the Emirates on Saturday. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>2. How Arsenal starts the game</h2> <p>For the most part this campaign, Arsenal have been quick out of the blocks and have, more often than not, scored early. Having not played in what seems like forever, how the team starts will be something to keep an eye on.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">HALF-TIME AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal</p> <p>Two early opening goals for Arsenal give the visitors a commanding lead after the opening 45 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/BOUARS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#BOUARS</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://t.co/hAZGqA58aI">pic.twitter.com/hAZGqA58aI

<p>— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1561039748755488770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 20, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Having not played since September 18, it does make you wonder if there are any cobwebs to be blown out early on. With a boisterous crowd behind them, Arsenal have a chance to put a marker in the ground for this season, but the lack of games over the last three weeks is a little troubling.</p> <p><em>Continued on 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/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Thing to look for #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_129614" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-129614 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2340,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1424924043.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2340" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1424924043.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1424924043-768x562.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Gabriel Jesus has scored just one goal against Spurs in ten games. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. Can Gabriel Jesus rise to the occasion?</h2> <p>This is the kind of game that Jesus was bought for: to be the difference maker on the big occasion. Against United, the Brazilian was serviceable, but Mikel Arteta needs him to be a menace on Saturday.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="1PukCq1ZVe"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/29/3-keys-arsenal-victory-saturdays-north-london-derby/">3 keys to an Arsenal victory in Saturday’s North London Derby</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/30/arsenal-vs-tottenham-3-things-look-for/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/29/3-keys-arsenal-victory-saturdays-north-london-derby/embed/#?secret=1PukCq1ZVe" data-secret="1PukCq1ZVe" width="500" height="282" title="“3 keys to an Arsenal victory in Saturday’s North London Derby” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>The diminutive striker has hit the ground running since swapping Manchester for north London. What better way to further endear himself to the Gunners faithful than with a dominating performance in the North London derby?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">