Arsenal vs Tottenham preview: All or Nothing
Yesterday at 03:00 PM
The Gunners host their rivals in a derby with massive PL implications
Wednesday marks the second North London Derby of the season, as Arsenal host hated local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Usually, this would be cause for bragadocious banter and chest thumping bravado. With both teams far from their best, this iteration lacks the same feel as recent ones. The Gunners have had an awful week that has put their domestic fate in jeopardy. A draw at Brighton in the Premier League was followed by a bruising 0-2 loss against Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals, and a penalty shootout loss to Manchester United that has ended Arsenal's FA Cup campaign before it began. Spurs are coming off two cup wins, but have been woeful in the league.
Spurs come to the Emirates struggling for consistency, but are likely buoyed by a chance to effectively deal a death blow to Arsenal's slim Premier League title chances. Liverpool's 6 point lead runs the risk of becoming insurmountable for the Gunners with a loss, and in their current state, that feels a very real possibility.
Mikel Arteta's side have been playing their own version of "the floor is lava," in front of the goals. They have missed an alarming amount of high-percentage chances, and have paid the price for it with two avoidable losses, both at the Emirates.
If ever there was a time to start scoring goals, Wednesday would be it. Whether or not they can remains to be seen.
Here are five talking points ahead of Wednesday's North London Derby:
Know the Enemy
If you look in the dictionary for the definition of "inconsistent," you're likely to find the 2024/25 Spurs as the first entry, right between "incomprehensible" and "incorrigible."
In Ange Postecoglou's 2nd season in charge, Tottenham have been as unpredictable as they come. One match, they are besting Liverpool in the first match of the Carabao Cup semifinals, and the next, they are struggling to put away 5th division Tamworth FC in regulation time at the FA Cup. Truly, they are a paradox.
Some of that can be chalked up to the Aussie manager's refusal to compromise his high-intensity, swashbuckling style of play. When it works, the high-press and quick transition produce a slice-and-dice attack that can pump goals in by the bucket. But when it doesn't, they suffer for it, evidenced by their mounting injuries. With up to 8 players out, including starting center backs Christian Romero and Mickey Van de Ven, it's been all hands on deck in the back, with very mixed results.
Spurs may be winless in their last four Premier League matches (which, to be clear, is incredibly enjoyable), but they enter the North London Derby likely to see Arsenal as a prime chance to reignite their form. Spurs can't seem to stop goals, but Arsenal can't score any. Stoppable force meets movable object.
The NLD has a tendency to bring out each team's best efforts. If Spurs strike first and take a lead, they'll probably feel comfortable knowing that Arsenal likely won't be able to go blow for blow.
Last Time Out
The Gunners traveled to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the beginning of the season, visiting their hated rivals on match week 4 for the season's first North London Derby. By then, Arsenal were already without midfield Martin Ødegaard, who had just suffered a long-term ankle injury during international duty that saw him miss the following two months.
As with most NLD's, it was a physical, tense match with a few flashpoints and plenty of chances for both sides. Spurs came out of the gates eager to prove a point after the Gunners came to their house and put the screws to them the last two visits. The stat sheet painted a very Spurs-forward match, with the hosts outpossessing, out-passing, and out-shooting the visitors. But matches, as they say, aren't played on paper.
As he has done countless times, it was Gabriel Magalhaes who provided the vital goal. Rising above the Spurs defense, he thundered home a header from a Bukayo Saka corner in the 64th minute, with Vicario helpless to do more than flap at it as it careened over his head.
Spurs threw everything they had at the Gunners as the match progressed, but the defense remained resolute and kept them at bay, ending the match 1-0, victorious at Spurs' home for the third consecutive season.
Injuries & Suspensions
The already-thin attack got even thinner after Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off in the 1st half of Arsenal's FA Cup match. While no definitive prognosis has been given, it's a safe bet to assume that his season, and possibly Arsenal career, are over.
Riccardo Calafiori was once again left out of the matchday squad on Sunday, having picked up another injury and continuing a worrying trend since signing with Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber and Jorginho both came off with what appeared to be injuries, but Mikel Arteta assured that it was cramping only during his pre-NLD conference on Tuesday, and that both will be available for Wednesday, which is a massive relief.
On the positive side of the current injuries (if there is such a thing), it sounds like Ben White is nearing his return to training after a lengthy layoff from knee surgery.
Out: Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (tba), Ethan Nwaneri (muscular injury), Takehiro Tomiyasu (undisclosed), Ben White (knee), Riccardo Calafiori (undisclosed)
Predicted Lineup
Attack: Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli
After Jesus' injury, Arsenal have four healthy attackers, and none of them are firing. Raheem Sterling finally got some run out, but only after Jesus went down. I assume Arteta will lean on the players he knows best to start with Sterling coming off the bench late in the match.
Midfield: Rice, Partey, Ødegaard
Martin Ødegaard had a match where he did most everything right, but missed a crucial penalty that could have won the match in regulation. Partey hasn't played at the 6 in the last two matches, and both matches could have used his passing and progression from the middle of the park. Rice is a workhorse right now, and can hopefully be the engine for a tired side.
Defense: Lewis Skelly, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber
Miles Lewis Skelly continues to look like the lone bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming side. Coupled with yet another Riccardo Calafiori injury, he is the starter on the left (though it was nice to see Kieran Tierney get a late cameo on Sunday).
Keeper: Raya
David Raya's poor performance in the penalty shoot out was a low in the shot stopper's Arsenal career, but his performance throughout the match was otherwise fine.
Support System
If one thing stood out during Arsenal's penalty shootout loss against United aside from the frustrating display on the pitch, it was the utter lack of energy from the home crowd. In fairness, they've had little to cheer about lately. Arsenal's last two home displays have provided a blooper reel of wasted chances and missed opportunities. With fans leaving well before the final whistle during the Newcastle match, it has been a grim state of affairs in the Emirates stands.
There's no doubt that this side is in abysmally low confidence, and the lack of a home atmosphere only compounds that. The players need the supporters to get behind them now more than ever. If they can't do it during the NLD, when can they?
We are officially at the "must win" phase of the season. Until Liverpool start regressing, which looks more "if" than "when" right now, the Gunners have exhausted their free hits on the fixture list. Margins for error have never been thinner. The NLD is a massive opportunity for this side to find themselves before it's too late. After all of the woulda, coulda, shouldas of the last week, there's nothing to do but to get back on the pitch, out of their heads, and onto the score sheet.
WHO: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
WHAT: The Premier League match week 21
WHEN: Wednesday, January 15th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming live on the Peacock app
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