Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal go head to head this weekend in the first North London derby of the season, and the game is too close to call for Mark Lawrenson.
When the North London derby comes around, all form and momentum goes out of the window. This is the first game fans and players look for when the fixtures are released, and motivation will not be an issue for either side on Sunday afternoon.
But, for Arsenal, there are a number of absences that will hinder their chances of getting a third successive win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Gunners will be without the suspended Declan Rice and their captain, Martin Odegaard, who picked up an injury on international duty.
Because of this, Lawrenson reckons the game will be incredibly close, and the pundit has backed a score draw for this meeting of two fierce rivals.
As part of his weekly Premier League predictions, Lawrenson told Paddy Power: “I’m siding with a draw here. Tottenham are good at home but you just never know in these games. If you said to Mikel Arteta now you could have a draw I think he’d take it.
“Martin Odegaard’s out and Declan Rice is suspended which makes it harder for Arsenal but it gives the guys who are normally on the bench the chance to come in and make a name for himself.”
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal.
These games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should ordinarily be in the home side’s favour, but Arsenal have certainly had the edge over their rivals of late.
Spurs have not beaten Arsenal since May 2022, and lost the last two games at their own ground.
Spurs Web Opinion
I won’t lie, I would take a draw from this. But, with the players Arsenal are missing and us being at home, we really should be winning.
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