Tottenham vs Arsenal Match Preview

Stakes High in North London Derby

The North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal is always one to circle on the English Premier League calendar. This time around, it has extra importance as both Arsenal and Tottenham are battling to qualify for the Champions League. The visiting Gunners can clinch a UCL berth for the first time since 2016-17 with a win and we’ll discuss their odds in this Tottenham vs Arsenal match preview.

Tottenham vs Arsenal Game Info:

• Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
• Date & Time: Thursday, 2:45 p.m. ET
• TV: USA Network, Fubo.tv

Head-to-Head

Last Five Premier League Meetings:

• Sep 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
• Mar 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
• Dec 2020: Tottenham 2-0 Arsenal
• Jul 2020: Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
• Sep 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham

A good EPL betting strategy in the North London Derby has been to avoid taking the away side. The home team is unbeaten in the last 15 Premier League meetings and has won the last four. Arsenal’s last Premier League win at Tottenham was in 2014 and the Gunners will be looking to break a seven-game winless run away vs Spurs.

Arsenal started this season 0-3 but got off to a flying start vs Tottenham in September with a 3-1 win. Two Arsenal academy products got on the scoresheet as Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka both scored before halftime. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now at Barcelona, also scored for the Gunners.

Must-Win Match for Tottenham

• Form (All Competitions): D,W,D,L,W
• Injuries and Suspensions: D Sergio Reguilon (groin), D Matt Doherty (knee), M Oliver Skipp (groin), D Japhet Tanganga (knee)

Tottenham got a big result last Saturday as they drew with title contenders Liverpool on the road. Heung-Min Son opened the scoring in the second half but Liverpool were able to equalize soon after. In four games vs Manchester City and Liverpool this season, Spurs are unbeaten.

The Spurs have often shown up for the big matches under Antonio Conte and this is undoubtedly the most important game of the season. If Tottenham loses, Arsenal will finish above them in the table and the Spurs be playing in the Europa League next season. A win will blow the top-four race wide open and the Spurs will be just one point behind the Gunners with two matches remaining.

This Tottenham vs Arsenal match preview would be incomplete without a mention of January addition Dejan Kulusevski. He has elevated Spurs’ front three and given Harry Kane and Son another capable running mate. The Swede has an impressive three goals and eight assists in 15 EPL appearances since joining Tottenham from Juventus.

Arsenal Can Make Long-Awaited UCL Return

• Form (All Competitions): W,W,W,W,L
• Injuries and Suspensions: D Kieran Tierney (knee), M Thomas Partey (muscle), D Ben White (hamstring)

After three consecutive losses to start the season, Arsenal fans were calling for Mikel Arteta’s head. He’s proven many of the doubters wrong as the Gunners have won 21 of their 32 Premier League matches since then and are one win away from a first top-four finish since 2016. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu have been excellent additions and Arsenal have won by trusting their academy products.

Hale End product Eddie Nketiah scored a brace within 10 minutes as Arsenal defeated Leeds United 2-1 on Sunday. Nketiah is in a contract standoff, but he’s certainly made a case for a renewal since replacing Alexandre Lacazette up front. Academy products Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have also been essential for the Gunners’ revival.

Arsenal betting odds list the Gunners as +235 underdogs coming into this match, but it’d be an iconic win for them if they can pull off the upset. Even a loss would still mean Arteta’s men control their own destiny as wins over Newcastle and Everton would seal a UCL return.

What to Watch

There are key injuries on both sides in this Tottenham vs Arsenal match preview. The Spurs will be missing left back Sergio Reguilon and it’s likely that Ryan Sessegnon starts at wing back once again. Defender Matt Doherty was also undergoing a revival under Conte until a knee injury ended his season.

Thomas Partey, Arsenal’s best midfielder, is still without a timetable for his return, but Mohamed Elneny has filled in brilliantly for the Ghanaian over the last few matches. Center back Ben White has also missed the last couple of matches with a hamstring issue but Arteta seemed hopeful he’d be available.

This is always a heated rivalry but the stakes have rarely been higher than this match. The bragging rights Arsenal would get from clinching the top four at the stadium of their biggest rivals should undoubtedly motivate Spurs to put on a good performance.

Tottenham are +120 favorites but have been outscored 5-2 in the last two North London Derbies. The O/U goal total is set at 2½ and four of the last five EPL meetings have gone over that total. This will be a nerve-wracking watch for both groups of fans, but Thursday’s match should be one of the very best games of the season for a neutral fan.