Tottenham Hotspur will be eager to get back to winning ways when they lock horns with Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday.
Both Spurs and the Gunners are in tricky situations ahead of the game at N17, having failed to win their last respective games before the international break.
In addition, both Tottenham and Arsenal could be without key players amid injuries and suspensions.
With such a big game on the horizon, the nation’s pundits have been giving their thoughts on how it’ll pan out and who will win.
The Spurs News looks at what pundits have said about the game and what predictions they have made.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville
Carragher predicted a 1-1 draw on the Stick To Football podcast, adding: “I think Tottenham will dominate the game, but Arsenal’s defence will make sure they get something from the game.”
Neville also went with a 1-1 draw on the same platform, adding: “I just think that Arsenal could have a couple of players, well, they got a couple of players out, big players, Declan Rice and Odegaard probably, so I think that will harm them. They are massive players for Arsenal.”
Chris Sutton
Sutton, writing on BBC Sport, backed Tottenham to emerge triumphant in a high-scoring encounter, predicting a 3-2 home win.
“Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has just signed a new contract, so maybe his mind has been on that new deal and how he can spend it on furnishing his house rather than the north London derby,” wrote Sutton.
“Being serious, though, Rice and Odegaard are such big losses that I can’t help but feel it will have an impact.
“Arsenal have got quality players like Jorginho and Thomas Partey to come into their midfield, but they are missing two of their best players.
“The Gunners will get chances in this game and I expect them to score – they won this fixture 3-2 last season and drew 2-2 at the Emirates, and I am expecting more of the same.
This time, however, I am going to back Spurs. I know everyone who is reading this will probably go for a draw but I am not going to do that.
“Instead, I am going to stick my long neck out and say ‘Angeball’ will come out on top.
“Spurs have dominated games and created chances this season, but they just need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net and I have a feeling that will happen for them here.
“If I am right, then we may as well hand the title to Manchester City.”
READ MORE: Tottenham’s £60M star has just been ruled out of the North London derby due to injury
Paul Merson
Merson, writing on Sportskeeda, went with the same prediction as Carragher and Neville, namely a 1-1 draw.
“I worry for Arsenal in the north London derby,” he wrote. “No Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard is a huge concern.
“Like I mentioned earlier, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne missed a lot of games last season but Manchester City were still able to win the league.
“Can Arsenal do the same with key players missing? Maybe not.
“I’ll have to go with a draw here, but that’s more in hope if I’m being honest.
“Tottenham have been unlucky, they could’ve been top of the league if they weren’t naive at the back.”
Alan Shearer
Shearer, writing in Metro, backed Tottenham and Arsenal to play out a score draw, though he didn’t specify the exact scoreline.
“The North London derby is a huge one in the Premier League,” he wrote.
“Derby games are great to play in because you can get away with a little bit more, the referees are a little more lenient, and they understand what it means to coaches, players and fans.
“If of course, Martin Odegaard is ruled that’s bad news for Arsenal but very good for Tottenham because Odegaard and Rice are two of Arsenal’s big hitters so to go into a game of this size without them, it would be tough for Arsenal.
“Hopefully Dominic Solanke is deemed fit for this one, because what a great way to introduce himself to the Tottenham fans if he could make the difference in his first derby game, to make a huge statement in a game of this size.
“The key to this game for me is will Spurs improve in forward positions. It’s something Ange Postecoglou will want to work on in terms of having more killer instinct when they do have the ball because on the evidence I saw, they’ll have to improve massively.
“These games are always really tight, and with the potential injury news for Arsenal, there may not be a lot between the two teams, so I’m tempted to go for a score-draw in this one.”
Steve Sidwell and Peter Crouch
Sidwell, speaking on That Peter Crouch podcast, said: “I have said goals, so I have gone for a 2-2 draw.”
Meanwhile, Crouch said: “I was going to go for 2-2, my second was 2-1. I am going to go 3-2 Arsenal. I think it will be an open game.”
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