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Arsenal host Tottenham in the North London Derby on September 1, 2019, at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal
Arsenal was the first football club from South of England to join the Football League and they currently own the longest streak of playing in the top flight as they have been relegated only once in 1913 since reaching the First Division in 1904. The Gunners have won a total of 13 League titles, 15 Community Shields, 13 FA Cups, 1 League Centenary Trophy, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and 1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
During the last term, Arsenal went 22-games from late August to the middle of December without losing a match. That unbeaten run pushed them to 5th place in the final table. They also made it to the Europa League Final but were beaten by Chelsea. Arsenal enters this contest as the slight soccer betting favorites to beat Tottenham on 9/1/19.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s key player. After the last day brace, he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with fellow African stars, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane. Arsenal’s chances this season are pinned on Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. Their partnership is going to be the key to an offense that wins them matches.
Dani Ceballos will play on loan from Real Madrid while Gabriel Martinelli from Brazil arrived to fight for a spot for the future. But perhaps their biggest addition is 18-year old center-back William Saliba who at 6-4, impressed in Ligue 1. Saliba though will play for Saint-Etienne on a loan next season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur FC was founded in 1882 and was the first club to accomplish the League and FA Cup double during the 1960/61 season. They successfully defended the FA Cup in 1962 and followed that up with a European Cup Winners Cup victory in 1963, the first for any British club. In 1972, they were the winners of the inaugural UEFA Cup. Overall, they have won at least one trophy in every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s, a feat matched only by Manchester United.
Tottenham finished with just one win in the final five Premier League matches and finished in 4th place last season after a promising start to their 2018-19 campaign. Still, they were able to make it to the Champions League final where they lost to Liverpool. Despite faltering down the stretch, Tottenham can boast of a consistency that saw them earn a fourth straight Top 4 finish in the top flight. But with boss Mauricio Pochettino now in his sixth year with the Hotspur, more is expected this season.
Harry Kane is Tottenham’s, main man. After an injury-hit 2018/19 term, a 100% healthy Kane can match any striker in the league, goal for goal. He remains the most valuable piece on this club although stats from last season say that the club won 58% of its games with him and 57% of their matches with him out of commission. Son Heung-Min stepped up in Kane’s absence while Fernando Llorente also made the most of his opportunities for Tottenham.
Frenchman Tanguy Ndombele is Tottenham’s key transfer addition. Ndombele shores up their midfield and maybe the closest thing to Mousa Dembele that they will find in the market. At 6-2, Ndombele has excellent pace, power and football ability. If he can adapt to the Premier League style, he should be exciting for the future.
Who Wins?
The Gunners and Spurs are coming off deflating defeats in the previous round with Mauricio Pochettino’s men dropping a 0-1 match to New Castle at home. On the other hand, Arsenal suffered a 1-3 debacle at Liverpool in a loss that showed that Unai Emery’s defense is still very much a work in progress. Since both teams cannot afford a derby defeat before the international break, this should be a very exciting match.
Arsenal has scored just a total of four goals in three matches, fewer than what the likes of Burnley and Norwich City have scored so far. On the other hand, the Spurs have struggled to break down their opponents this season as they exposed themselves against Newcastle. Sunday’s match should be a close one.
Tottenham will give Arsenal plenty of time with the ball and then hit them at the break. Meanwhile, the Spurs will want to do the same to their opponents. I don’t like not picking a side but given the form that these two clubs have shown as of late and given what is at stake here, I won’t be surprised if this ends in a draw. Prediction: Draw
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