Arsenal Vs Spurs: Some truly remarkable stats

Arsenal host Spurs at Saturday lunchtime for the first North London derby of the season. Here are some truly remarkable stats to both encourage and worry.

North London derbies carry a special weight. They always have. Neither Arsenal nor Spurs like each other. Like every local derby. But given their proximity, both geographically and in the table, the many players that have crossed the divide, and the dominance of one over the other for two decades, all because of one man, there is a distinctive and unique fever about the rivalry.

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But that disdain for the other, the vented frenzy between the two has only intensified in recent years. For the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure, Spurs finished above the Gunners. They are now the ones in the Champions League; they are now the ones challenging for the title. That is the harsh truth that Arsenal fans must come to terms with.

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So, with that in mind, the first North London derby of this season takes place at Saturday lunchtime. And in researching for a number of different pieces in the build-up, I discovered some rather odd, wonderful, and worrying stats that I wanted to collate into one piece. So you may have seen some of these before. You may not have. But they paint a picture of what is set to be an exhilarating match.

The first thing I discovered centred on the shifting power in North London. Arsenal have not won a North London derby in the Premier League in three years (four draws, two losses). That is their longest winless run against Spurs in league competition. Furthering that, Mauricio Pochettino is unbeaten in the Premier League with Spurs against Wenger.

And Spurs have not just dominated the North London rivalry. They have dominated the Premier League. In the past two full seasons, they have the best points total, the best goal difference, the most goals scored and the least goals conceded. In fact, they have the best goal difference and have conceded the least number of goals in both of the last two full seasons individually.

The man that much of their success has been built on is Harry Kane. He might well be the best striker in world football currently. There is certainly a case to be heard. Kane has scored in every Premier League North London derby he has played in (six goals in five appearances), and now has 13 goals in 14 club appearances this season. On the calendar year, he has scored a remarkable 29 goals in 27 games. Only Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski, Bas Dost and, obviously, Lionel Messi, have scored more.

Those are some concerning truths for Arsenal. But there is reason to hope. They are unbeaten at the Emirates since the 5-1 humbling at the hands of Bayern Munich, with 14 wins and two draws, and they have the chance to win their sixth straight Premier League home match to open the year. That would be the first time that they have done that since the 2007/08 season, 10 years ago.

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This is set to be a fascinating fixture. With four points between the two sides and a blistering Manchester City to catch, there is more than just pride on the line. Arsenal can win. They must win. Whether they will win, though, is another question.