BEN LEVENE (@BenLevene96) has scoured the markets ahead of Saturday’s North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham.
Arsenal v Tottenham | Saturday 18th November 2017, 12:30 | Sky Sports
The Premier League returns after the international break, and it’s back in full force. Spurs travel to North London rivals Arsenal in Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Gunners have won all five games at The Emirates in the league this season and they’ll be keen to extend that run here as they look to avenge April’s trip to White Hart Lane when they just weren’t at the races.
Much of that may depend on the availability of Shkodran Mustafi and Danny Welbeck who both face late fitness tests.
Despite conceding eight goals in their last four league games, Arsene Wenger has persisted with the back-three system that led them to FA Cup success last campaign.
Bittersweet team news for Tottenham
Arsenal fans will have fumed to find that ‘injured’ trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks all returned to training this week. But Spurs aren’t half without their injury worries.
Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld are set to miss the weekend having picked up injuries prior to the international break, with Alderweireld expected out until the New Year. Eric Dier may drop into a back-three to compensate.
Paulo Gazzaniga, who is from the same town as Mauricio Pochettino, made his Spurs debut at home to Crystal Palace last time out, but Michel Vorm is expected to come in after a knee problem.
Spurs’ solid road record
Tottenham are level on points with Manchester United in second place, and look to have adapted to life at Wembley, making light-work of Real Madrid and Liverpool at their temporary home.
On the road however, Pochettino’s men have impressed from the outset, winning four out of five, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
They lost 1-0 at Man Utd to a late goal three weeks ago, but on that occasion were without talisman Kane.
Oppose goals at The Emirates
Pochettino has never lost a Premier League game against Arsenal. Since taking charge at Spurs, all three trips to The Emirates have ended in a 1-1 draw.
Spurs are one of the most defensively sound units in the league. Pochettino has his side organised to a tee. The evidence can be seen in their travels to Real Madrid and Manchester United and I expect that again to be the case here.
Arsenal haven’t been blowing away teams at home like has been the case in previous seasons, but they have been performing efficiently. At The Emirates, they’ve won three of their last four to nil, and have scored exactly two goals in each of their last three.
A meeting with an arch-nemesis more often than not results in a cagey affair. Each of the last five meetings between the sides at The Emirates have seen Under 2.5Ggoals. Neither side will want to lose, and while still available at 11/8, Under 2.5 goals is worth keeping onside.
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Arsenal v Tottenham – Under 2.5 Goals (11/8 Black Type)
