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Tottenham v Arsenal – NLD preview | Confirmed team news, line-up + score prediction

By on July 12, 2020

Mikel Arteta Arsenal

Arsenal take on Tottenham in a huge North London Derby this afternoon that could determine our hopes of playing European football next season.

Tuesday night’s hugely frustrating 1-1 draw with Leicester City ended any slim hopes of Arsenal making a late push for fifth place and possibly sneaking into the Champions League [if City’s ban is upheld] so the focus has to be on qualifying for the Europa again.

Unfortunately, Sheffield United thrashed Chelsea last night to move up to sixth and are now four points ahead of Arsenal in eighth with Wolves sandwiched between in seventh so we’re under pressure to get a result today.

We also cannot forget Burnley as they’re now level on points with Arsenal after drawing at Liverpool while Tottenham are just a point behind in tenth so it’s very tight right now between the five clubs fighting it out for the Europa League spots.

We have Liverpool up next at the Emirates so it’s vital Arsenal get something from the game this afternoon or we could find ourselves without any form of European football at all next season – which would be devastating for the clubs finances.

The good news is Spurs are in a right mess at the minute and it looks like Jose Mourinho is already imploding so this could be a good time to play them – although form and everything else goes out the window on derby day.

Team news

Arsenal will be without Eddie Nketiah as he’s suspended following his sending off against Leicester while Bernd Leno, Calum Chambers, Gabriel Martinelli and Pablo Mari are all out through injury.

nicolas pepe arsenal

The official line on Arsenal.com is that Mesut Ozil is still nursing a ‘sore back’ so he’s not likely to be involved today while Matteo Guendouzi won’t feature after being frozen out by Mikel Arteta.

As for Tottenham, Eric Dier is suspended and Dele Alli is out with a hamstring injury. Defenders Japhat Tangana and Juan Foyth are also missing due to back and knee injuries.

Preferred line-up

Arteta seems to have stumbled on a settled side but the only real change I’d like to see if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang playing through the middle with Nicolas Pepe on the right and Buyako Saka on the left side of the attack.

football formations

Expected Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Moura, Son, Kane

Score prediction

This is a huge game for both clubs and there is no doubt Arsenal are in better shape heading into the match. We’re unbeaten in our last five games – winning four – and Arteta definitely has the team more organised and harder to play against.

Tottenham on the other hand look lost and were woeful during the 0-0 draw at Bournemouth last time out. Mourinho’s boring football has sucked the life out of them and they have looked clueless going forward in recent weeks. Harry Kane will probably still score [a dodgy penalty] as he always does against Arsenal but I’m quietly confident we can get a result this afternoon.

Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal

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