Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in the Premier League last weekend, beating Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium Of Light thanks to two goals each from strikers Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud. The victory ensured Arsene Wenger’s men remain level on points with table-toppers Manchester City as the campaign enters its second quarter, with the Gunners expected to launch a sustained challenge for the league title this term. Arsenal are certainly playing well and look to have found the right balance between attack and defence so far in 2016/17, although it is worth bearing in mind the fact that they have often fallen away in the month of November in previous seasons.
Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw against champions Leicester City last time out, which made it three games without a victory in the top flight for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. They remain in fifth place in the standings, though, just three points adrift of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and the summit, and are still a very difficult team to play against. No side, indeed, have conceded fewer goals than Spurs up to now (five), although Pochettino will be fully aware that his charges need to improve their attacking output if they are to remain in touch at the top of the table.
Arsenal will hope to welcome back Theo Walcott, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal for this crunch clash, but Lucas Perez, Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom are definitely out. Sanchez is likely to continue as the furthest man forward despite Giroud’s double last weekend – the France international also found the back of the net in the Gunners’ dramatic 3-2 defeat of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets on Tuesday – while Walcott could come in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right, rather than Alex Iwobi on the left, if he is fit enough to participate.
Tottenham will once more have to make do without Toby Alderweireld, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. Harry Kane was not fit enough for the substitutes’ bench for Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League but could be included in the matchday squad at the Emirates, with Son Heung-min and Vincent Janssen battling it out to start up top. Eric Dier again looks set to partner Jan Vertonghen at centre-back in Alderweireld’s absence, while Mousa Dembele could miss out after picking up an ankle injury in the first half of this week’s loss to Bayer.
On balance, it is probably worth backing Arsenal to come out on top when they lock horns with their neighbours this weekend. Wenger’s side have been playing very well of late and could overwhelm Tottenham, who may struggle to break down a much-improved defensive unit. A 2-1 home win therefore looks like the way to go in this one, with the returning Walcott an astute choice for anytime goalscorer.
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