Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: Emery Versus Poch In Must-Win North London Derby After Last Weeks’ Reversals

With the blistering form that last seasons’ Premier League Champions, Manchester City and runners-up, Liverpool set in the previous campaign, any defeat this season could well be critical to any clubs’ desire to gain ground on the best two teams in the league.

So, with Arsenal suffering at the hands of Liverpool in a 3-1 defeat at Anfield last Saturday, and Tottenham – somewhat surprisingly – coming unstuck due to a solitary Joelinton goal in front of their home supporters last Sunday, the North London Derby takes on extra importance this Sunday afternoon, with a kick-off time of 16:30 BST.

Liverpool are already blazing a trail at the head of the Premier League standings with three victories, and as Arsenal are three points and Tottenham, already five points behind the pacesetters, this game can already be deemed as a ‘must-win’, if either club has serious aspirations on challenging for the title this season.

Match Odds

Home advantage is believed to be the key to victory in this game according to the bookmakers at least who make the Gunners’ favorites to claim the spoils in this hugely important fixture. Unai Emiery’s side can be backed at the best industry price at the time of writing of 7/5 with SportingBet to add further woe to their local rivals.

Tottenham are not too far behind in the Match Betting however, and the Lilywhites are available at the top price of 19/10 with Unibet and 888Sport. The Draw, which is hardly the best result for either team, can be taken with Unibet once again at 27/10.

Spurs have a very poor record at Arsenal in the Premier League era with just two away victories since its inception. A Gareth Bale –inspired Tottenham won 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium back in 2010, with defender, Younes Kaboul notching the winning goal, just four minutes from time. The following eight meetings have seen five Arsenal wins and three draws. Spurs fans can draw some comfort from their most recent trip across North London, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side dumped out Arsenal 2-0 in last seasons’ EFL Cup.

Arsenal look to have made significant improvements via the transfer market over the summer months, and this game will tell us plenty more on how good they really are. Tottenham, will be a wounded animal following last weeks’ home defeat at Newcastle, and that makes them a very tough test for Emery’s side. This game is tough to call, and although neither team will wish for one point, when three are available, it could well be the final outcome here.

Individual Goal Scorers

Harry Kane

With a plethora of attacking talent on show here for both teams, the First Goalscorer market will be very difficult to fathom, but here is some of the latest betting information to try and guide punters in the right direction.

Tottenham and England striker, Harry Kane narrowly leads the betting at 17/4 with 888Sport and Unibet. The 26- year old has already hit two goals so far this season, and he is the obvious danger to the Arsenal rearguard in this game.

Narrowly behind Kane, as Arsenal’s main goal threat that is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who can be backed at 9/2 with SportPesa and 10Bet. The Gabonese striker has also scored two goals so far this season, and he will be desperate to atone for his late penalty miss at Wembley Stadium last season, as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Tottenham back in March.

Other Tottenham interests come from Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura, who can be taken at 7/1 and 8/1 with SportPesa and 10Bet respectively. Both are expected to play in this game and could be alternative options to Harry Kane.

A couple of players at bigger odds to tempt punters may be Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen – provided the Danish international makes the starting line-up. Mkhitaryan is a stand-out price of 9/1 with Betfred, while Eriksen is a 12/1 chance – again with Betfred – and the Dane can be very dangerous from distance, via free-kicks or long shots at goal.

Other Side Bets

It is a very short price at 1/2 with William Hill, but Both Teams to Score looks highly likely in this game. Arsenal obviously being the home team will have to show intent and attack Tottenham if they are to gain the victory, but the Gunners defence still has questions to answer to say the least and the Lilywhites can capitalise. This selection will not be a get-rich-quick scheme, but it is a very likely winning punt in my view.

Even though Both Teams to Score does look very likely to be a winning selection in this particular game, Over 2.5 Goals, may not be so certain in comparison in my view. 888Sport offer the best industry odds of 6/10 on Over 2.5 goals, but I’d be prepared to take a punt on the Under in this market at 29/20 with Unibet. This is a game that both teams dare not lose, and they could ultimately nullify each other out if the scores are level with 15-20 minutes remaining.

After previously pinning our betting hopes for an Emirates stalemate in this game, we look towards the Match Result and Both Teams to Score market next, with the full-time result to be a draw, with both teams to score. This outcome can be backed at 16/5 with Coral, and it is also worthy of an interest.

Our Correct Score offering for this game is a 1-1 draw at full-time. Coral and SportingBet are the places to go for this selection at the best industry odds of 13/2, in what promises to be a highly entertaining battle on Sunday afternoon.

Best Bets:

• Both Teams to Score in the Match at 1/2 with William Hill
• Both Teams to Score and the Match to end in a Draw at 16/5 with Coral
• Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur Correct Score bet at 13/2 with SportingBet