Arsenal vs Tottenham preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Emile Smith Rowe; Saka, Aubameyang, Willian

Tottenham: Lloris; Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Bale, Ndombele, Son; Kane

Arsenal vs Tottenham Score Prediction

As far as preparations go, staying overnight in Athens and flying back on Friday to only have one full day of training prior to Sunday’s meet is not ideal.

Arsenal proved they can overcome such setbacks in the roaring victory over Leicester, even with multiple alterations to the lineup. Against Spurs, Arteta can’t be taken similar actions.

With Europa League qualification within their grasp barring an almighty 3-0 home collapse – or worse – in the second leg, there is scope for a full strength side to take on Tottenham. And, it will have to be.

Just how Mourinho opts to go for this one is intriguing. All signs point towards the usual bus parking with otherworldly telepathy between Son and Kane causing havoc with each breakaway, although he may change his tune given the events of the past two fixtures.

Two woeful errors – and more that went unpunished – due to a lack of composure when being pressed high could tease the Portuguese into making adjustments to his blueprint. They won’t press high all afternoon, but they may incorporate more than usual.

Everyone is fully aware of what Kane can do, as well as what he has done. The air of an inevitable penalty won by Bale as well as Son scoring in a swift counter-attack is hard to shirk. As solid as Arsenal have been defensively this season barring individual errors, keeping out that trio will prove trickiest of all.

This fixture is always tough to call. Usually, given its history, 2-2 tends to be flung about as rarely does the north London derby produce fewer than two goals. Worryingly for the Gunners is that when their sworn enemies come to town, a full home support gives the players an extra lift. When you’re merely defending resolutely the need for supporter backing quite isn’t as essential as it is for chasing lost balls and raising the tempo. That isn’t an excuse for the reverse leg in which Sp*rs were deserved winners, however.

I fully expect this to be a painful 90 minutes in which Tottenham win with 20% possession. Please be wrong.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham