Arsenal vs Tottenham Preview: How to Watch, Predicted Lineups, Score Prediction & Team News

For the first time this season, Arsenal take on Tottenham in the North London Derby.

When the fixtures come out and cause a remarkable frenzy from supporters up and down the country, if you are of an Arsenal affiliation, your eyes always direct themselves towards one particular name: Tottenham.

Whether we host them or make the short journey to their NFL stadium, it’s the fixture that we look forward to the most. Arsenal vs Tottenham. The North London Derby.

Perhaps it’s our superior record in this fixture over the Premier League era (not recently) that’s doing the talking, but no other derby game in English football comes close. Goals, drama, raucous support. It is the crème de la crème of clashes on this island.

If only were excited about it instead of horrendously fearful. Yes, ‘the form book goes out of the window’ in these matches, but you’re one brave supporter if you’re going into this one beaming with confidence.

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Sitting in vastly contrasting positions that could stretch to seismic proportions if the result falls goes by the way of them, this might be the most perilous journey up the Seven Sisters Road many supporters have ever known.

Our record against them reads no wins in the last four encounters, including no win on their patch (or Wembley) since a League Cup victory some five years ago.

In the Premier League, Arsenal haven’t tasted victory on the road against Sp*rs since 2014. A certain Tomas Rosicky scored scored a belter on that day.

It’s a big one. It’s the North London Derby. Here’s your preview of Sunday’s Premier League clash.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Sunday 6th December
What Time Is Kick Off? 16:30 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Main Event (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Martin Atkinson

Team News

Just as Arsenal have players returning from injury, others go and take up those spots in the treatment room. Although lacking match fitness, returning defensive duo Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari are set to be available for the upcoming December run-in.

Sunday, however, won’t see them feature given the calibre of fixture and because they’re still not quite ready for Premier League football despite their welcome returns in the Europa League. Gabriel Martinelli edges ever closer to a first team return but his progress is being monitored carefully, with appearances in the New Year more likely.

David Luiz sat out the midweek clash with Rapid Vienna due to a cut on his forehead, but will be available, while both Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac could be in line for their first top-flight outings since the pair contracted COVID-19 while away on international duty.

The issue lies in midfield, where Thomas Partey‘s thigh strain continues to cause a fright. Mikel Arteta has sought to calm fears of an even longer lay-off, but all signs point towards Sunday being too soon, even if he returned to training on Friday…

For Tottenham, Jose Mourinho teased with the idea that Harry Kane might not be fit, but the striker could be dragged to hell by Satan himself five minutes before kick-off, be tied to a rock and left to endure a lifetime of torment and he’d still somehow miraculously play against Arsenal.

Toby Alderweireld, another who looked available for Sunday, is due to be fit in time to play, while Carlos Vinícius and Sergio Reguilon missed training at the start of the week but are also due to return. Erik Lamela will not feature.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Elneny, Willock; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Tottenham: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Son, Kane, Bergwijn

Tottenham vs Arsenal Score Prediction

Must we?

Regardless of current standing, the North London Derby never ceases to get the pulses racing. Winning trophies is the epitome of football, but not far behind that, you have beating Tottenham. Never mind beating Tottenham at Tottenham.

It’s only been done in the Premier League twice in the last 13 years, while last season’s meeting was one of the more frustrating afternoons Arsenal have had under Arteta having gone in front through Alexandre Lacazette‘s thunderbolt only to lose the game in the final ten minutes.

For Sunday, your head says one thing, but your heart tells and entirely different story. I really can’t – as much as I want to – help but think with my head.

The way they’re playing and the way we’re playing (Europa League aside), this game couldn’t suit a Mourinho side any better. I don’t foresee them being as stand-off(ish) as some may think, with Sp*rs likely to come flying out of the traps early doors.

Yet whatever method they employ, their superior strike force and sound defensive cover with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Moussa Sissoko just screams danger and frustration in equal measures. While normally you could make a case for a big result in such a clash, the banality of Arsenal’s play at the minute and the lethargic midfield options make us easy targets.

This is horrible. Forgive me Arsenal, please prove me wrong.

Score Prediction: Tottenham 3-0 Arsenal