Arsenal have an excellent record against Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium, having never lost a derby at home since 2010. Will their record stay intact against a rejuvenated Spurs?
The first North London Derby of the season rolls out on Sunday afternoon, as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns at the Emirates Stadium.
Both teams head into the fixture level on 13 points and boasting unbeaten records after five league matches, but Spurs have had the benefit of a full week to prepare for this game having missed out on European qualification last term.
Arsenal, however, are unbeaten in each of their last 15 league games following a European encounter.
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The history books are very much in Arsenal’s favour as they have lost just once in their last 30 home derbies and none since November 2010.
Just like last season, Spurs arrive at Emirates Stadium unbeaten which is no mean feat given the upheaval they endured over the summer.
A drawn-out process eventually saw Ange Postecoglou poached from Celtic to become their new boss, while an even longer saga ended when Harry Kane switched to Bayern Munich.
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However, the Australian manager has guided his new team to their best start in Premier League history, and their best points return after five games since 1965. The additions of James Maddison and Brennan Johnson have freshened up their attack, with Son Heung-min taking up the captaincy.
Tottenham have scored at least twice in all five of their league games under Postecoglu so far, which includes four successive wins with Bournemouth and Burnley beaten on their travels.
They have also shown plenty of resilience too, as coming into this weekend only Liverpool have won more points from losing positions than the seven Spurs have gained so far, which includes three gained last weekend when they netted twice deep into stoppage-time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at home to Sheffield United.
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Team news
It remains to be seen if Gabriel Martinelli will be fit for this game, after limping off against Everton last weekend with a hamstring issue that caused him to miss Wednesday’s Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven.
Thomas Partey will definitely be out with his groin injury, with Jurrien Timber our the only other player in the treatment room following his ACL tear on the opening weekend.
Spurs were dealt a huge blow in midweek with the news that Ivan Perisic will likely miss the rest of the campaign with his own ACL injury, which was suffered in training.
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Giovani lo Celso has a thigh issue, but long-term absentees Bryan Gil (thigh), Ryan Sessegnon hamstring) and Rodrigo Bentancur (knee) remain out.
Head to head record
Arsenal won four of their last five games against Tottenham (L1), as many victories as they had in the previous 16.
Tottenham have won just one of their last 30 away league games against Arsenal (D11 L18) and are winless in 12 (D4 L8) since a 3-2 victory in November 2010.
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The Gunners have only scored more Premier League home goals against Everton (76) than against Tottenham (63), while Spurs have only conceded more away goals against Liverpool (64) than against Arsenal in the competition.
The 13-time league champions have not lost any of their 14 Premier League London derbies since the start of last season (W11 D3), scoring 32 goals and conceding just 10 in the process. At the Emirates, Arsenal are unbeaten in 11 since a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in their first home game of 2021/22.
This is the first meeting between both sides in which they are yet to be beaten coming into the match since September 1990, when the pair drew 0-0 at Highbury in the third game of the season.
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In the Premier League, it's the sixth time Arsenal have faced Spurs while still unbeaten (W2 D3), while it's the fifth time Spurs have faced Arsenal without having lost (D1 L3).
Since the start of last season, The Mikel Arteta-coached side have scored more Premier League goals from corners than any other side (16), while Tottenham are second in this respect (15).
Their last two winning goals have been from corner situations (Declan Rice v Man Utd, Leandro Trossard v Everton).
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Mikel Arteta has won all three of his home league games against Tottenham as coach, with – only Terry Neill bettering that record, as he won each of his first four home derbies.
Bukayo Saka has been involved in 18 goals in his last 18 Premier League home appearances (12 goals, 6 assists), including three in three this term.
Possible line ups
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz ; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison
Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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North London Derby: Postecoglou threatens to 'scare the life out' of Arsenal
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Arsenal's powers can sometimes wane when faced with a low block, but the Gunners ran riot against a bolder PSV team and will need no second invitation to subject an aggressive, front-footed Spurs side to similar treatment, as Postecoglou should not be expected to abandon his principles.
Clean sheets at home still elude the Gunners in the Premier League, but if their performance on Wednesday is anything to go by, Arteta's men have rediscovered their clinical edge and should end Postecoglou's unbeaten start with their customary Emirates North London derby triumph.
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