Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Sreya

Tottenham Hotspur hosts Arsenal at White Hart Lane on 5th March, Saturday in one of the most crucial London derbies of recent years – one which would play a significant role in deciding the English Premier League title.

Arsenal have lost their two previous matches to Manchester United and Swansea City on the trot – which has hurt Arsenal’s title chances and paved the way for Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur to capitalize. Tottenham, who lost their last match 1-0 at West Ham, are on fifty four points, three behind league leaders Leicester City.

Arsenal are on the third position with fifty one points and are in desperate need for a win to keep their championship aspirations alive.

Team News

Clinton N’Jie and Jan Vertonghen have been ruled out already but Dele Alli is set to return to the matchday squad. Mousa Dembele has been listed as a doubt.

Petr Cech picked up a hamstring injury in the later periods of the Gunners’ defeat to Swansea and joins Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain on the sidelines.

Tottenham Hotspur Possible Starting Lineup: Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin Wimmer, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-Min, Harry Kane.

Arsenal Possible Starting Lineup: David Ospina, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista, Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Joel Campbell, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“We expect another tough game against Arsenal and we need full energy to win the game. I don’t feel the squad feels pressure. We have ten games, a lot of points to play for.”

– Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur.

“It is one of the few derbies where the title is at stake. It is a big one, a very important one. Maybe our confidence has been a bit jaded but it’s like always in football. We do 98% of things right and we have to add the 2% of things that are down to maybe finding back our collective qualities, and even put more effort in.”

– Arsene Wenger, Arsenal.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Arsenal have won three of the previous six encounters between both clubs while Tottenham have won only once. However, Tottenham have won their last three home matches in the Premier League. In fact, Tottenham had won ten of their previous twelve matches before losing to West Ham.

With a minimum of 2.5 goals scored in Arsenal’s last three league fixtures, it is likely to be a high-scoring affair. It will be a closely contested game, but Tottenham Hotspur are likely to win 2-1 on current form.