Tottenham v Arsenal
Tuesday 23rd September – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Football – England – League Cup
Although the League Cup is unlikely to be seen as a priority for either of these clubs, there is never a meaningless North London derby, and Wednesday’s game at White Hart Lane will be no different. It is the second game against a team from the capital in the space of a week for both Tottenham and Arsenal, but this one is the match that supporters of the two have been looking forward to since the draw was made last month.
Having failed to win any of their first four league games, Spurs have recorded back-to-back victories following 1-0 successes away to Sunderland, and at home to Crystal Palace. Those wins were gained either side of a 3-1 victory over Qarabag in the first round of games Europa League, so it has been a positive couple of weeks for Mauricio Pochettino and his players. Wednesday’s game will be a completely different test, however, such is the pressure on these games. Spurs did of course reach the final of the League Cup last season in what was the managers first season in charge, but succumbed to Chelsea in the final at Wembley in March. If they are to get back to that venue in six months time, they will have to get by their archest rivals, here.
As good a period as it has been for Tottenham, it has been anything but for Arsenal. The Gunners Champions League campaign got off to a disastrous start in Zagreb last week, losing 2-1 to Dinamo after Arsene Wenger made several changes ahead of lunchtime kick-off encounter with Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Unfortunately for Wenger, the decision to rest key players never worked, as the Arsenal manager lost yet another game to Jose Mourinho’s Blues. They finished that game with nine men, and despite Gabrial’s sending-off being overturned, it was another occasion where ill-discipline and stupidity got the better of them leaving them short, as was the case in Croatia when Oliver Giroud was giving his marching orders. The atmosphere at White Hart Lane will be fierce and whoever takes the field for the visitors will have to maintain their control.
Being the home side and on the back of a good run of form, I do not expect Pochettino to make wholesale changes for Wednesday’s game. Not only will the manager want to build on the momentum gained from those wins, he’s also shown his desire to progress in this competition, as evidenced in last season’s cup run. One man who could well make his debut in the North London derby is Heung-Min Son. The South Korean has made an instant impact in his very brief Spurs career, scoring three goals in his first three appearances, including the winner against Palace on Sunday. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Son looks like the type of attacker Tottenham have been crying out for to take some of the burden off Harry Kane.
Wenger has traditionally made a number of changes in the League Cup and I think that will be the same again. He has used the competition to give his younger players some valuable experience so it could well be a youthful staring eleven for Arsenal. As much as this may not be a priority for Wenger, such has been the Gunners’ start to the season – particularly their failures in the last week – the club’s supporters will not want to go out of this competition so early in the campaign, particularly as it comes against their bitter rivals. Incidentally, Arsenal have not less three consecutive away games since April 2010, which all concerned will still be the case come 10pm on Wednesday.
Tottenham v Arsenal Betting Tips
Pochettino has already tasted success against Arsenal after Spurs won the Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane back in February, which meant he took four points from Wenger’s men having already gained a 1-1 draw at the Emirates earlier in the campaign. There are signs that his Tottenham team are beginning to click into gear, and although Kane has to to find the sort of form of last season, they look a more balanced side going forward.
There was a massive expectation on Arsenal before a ball was kicked this season, but the players have been unable to meet those expectations. The Champions League and Premier League remain their focus, whilst they will want to defend their FA Cup for a third season, but there are dissenting voices beginning to emerge amongst the Arsenal support again and those voices would grow a great deal louder if they fail to get a result tomorrow.
Just one point separates these two sides in the Premier League, with Arsenal holding the slight advantage. As discussed above, I would be surprised if Arsenal are at full-strength and I think that could be the crucial factor in determining who comes out on top. Spurs are hitting form at the moment, conceding very few (only two in their last four league games) and looking more threatening going forward. Having gotten to the final last season, there will be a sense of wanting to go one better I feel they can put a big marker down by getting the better of Arsenal.
Tottenham 21/10 @ Betfred
