Arsenal take every advantage to defeat Tottenham in the North London derby

Over the years, the North London derby has always played an important role in shaping the entire season of the two teams.

However, everything is different now. Arsenal are leading the group and pursuing their first Premier League title in two decades, while Spurs are still seeking identity under new coach Thomas Frank.

Therefore, this match has a special meaning for each club, but for completely different reasons.

For Arsenal, the derby is always more emotional than a normal match, but from the perspective of the championship race, this is still just an important 3-point match like any other match. As for Spurs, this is not only an opportunity to stop their traditional opponents, but also a way to nurture their own hopes in the journey to regain their position.

So will Arsenal's winning machine continue to operate smoothly? Or will Spurs be the team that breaks that sublime streak?

Arsenal's motivation

It is often said that "form is no longer very meaningful" in derbies, but there is no reason to believe that will happen again in this match.

Arsenal are leading the group with a gap of 4 points compared to the second-placed team, unbeaten in all competitions for 14 matches and maintaining almost absolute solidity in the defense. On the other hand, Spurs have lost 3 of their last 7 matches, and have generally not created convincing results under Thomas Frank.

The Gunners are making strong progress ahead of the North London derby. The Gunners have won five of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham, including three of their last three - their longest run since the late 1980s.

At home, they have lost just one of their last 32 derbies and are on a 26-game winning streak against Spurs, with at least two goals in their last eight games.

If they score two more goals this weekend, Arsenal will equal their record of scoring two or more goals in nine consecutive Premier League games against the same Premier League opponent (9 against Leicester, 1997-2016). With their home form and advantage, Arsenal are full of confidence and are considered stronger in this match.

Tottenham's home-field habit against Arsenal

A strange thing about recent North London derbies is that Tottenham often "help" their opponents. In 4 of the last 5 meetings, there has been a Spurs player coming home.

Arsenal also often need goals from set pieces to open the scoring, especially when the game is at a standstill. However, if Spurs play tightly and make no mistakes, the "Gunners" may have difficulty penetrating the opponent this weekend.

All four of Tottenham's recent home goals have opened the scoring for Arsenal, with three of them giving the Gunners a lead in the first 30 minutes of the game. The other goal, due to a mistake by Dominic Solanke, equalized the score 1-1 for Arsenal before they came back.

The last 3 home goals have also cost Spurs points: 2 in close defeats (1-2 and 2-3) and one in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates in September 2023. Tottenham have had 7 home goals since the beginning of the 2023-2024 season, in which they lost 5, drew 2 and did not win any matches.

Spurs need absolute precision if they want to get points this weekend, and avoiding home runs will be an important start.