ARSENAL make the short trip to Tottenham with local bragging rights and the chance of European football up for grabs. Both sides’ Champions League hopes were ended by midweek draws with Leicester and Bournemouth respectively but Arsenal sit one point above Spurs in what could be the final Europa League spot. What time does Tottenham […]
ARSENAL make the short trip to Tottenham with local bragging rights and the chance of European football up for grabs.
Both sides’ Champions League hopes were ended by midweek draws with Leicester and Bournemouth respectively but Arsenal sit one point above Spurs in what could be the final Europa League spot.
Tottenham will be without Eric Dier as he serves the second game of a four-match ban for confronting a fan in the stand against Norwich in March.
Juan Foyth and Japhet Tanganga remain injured, leaving Jose Mourinho with very limited defensive options.
Arsenal will certainly be without Eddie Nketiah, who is serving a three match ban after losing an appeal against the red card he was given in the draw with Leicester.
Calum Chambers, Bernd Leno, Gabriel Martinelli and Pablo Mari are all out with injuries for the Gunners.
And Mikel Arteta will have to decide whether to recall Mesut Ozil, who has been frozen out recently while Matteo Guendouzi is unlikely to feature after being forced to train alone.
Latest odds from Ladbrokes are as follows:
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho: “We want to keep our defensive organisation as it is giving us good numbers but we’re not scoring enough goals.
“We’re not being dangerous and attack-minded enough despite all the attacking players on the pitch.
“At the moment there is a contradiction between the amount of attacking players we have on the pitch and our production.
“We are arriving in good positions, we have good percentages of ball possession and spend the majority of the time in the opponent’s half.
“But there is no sharpness or objective – there’s too many touches, we’re not clear or aggressive or making sharp killer decisions.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised opposite number Mourinho ahead of the derby.
He said: “They have had some up and downs, but overall you can clearly see what he wants to bring to the club.
“He manages the energy, the momentum and established a really strong culture in strong football club that does it.
“I have huge respect for Jose and what he’s trying to do. He makes sure that he wins and he has won at every single club he has been.
“I’m sure he will be successful. It will take him a bit of time.
“He has a very clear way of playing and how he manages games. Clean sheets is a big part of what he wants to do.
“They have had a lot of injuries, that’s a big disadvantage that they have.
“I know that he has done it [before]. I know people who have worked with him, he always finds a way to be successful. I’m sure he will do it again.”
