Former ahead turned pundit Paul Merson has stated that he’ll be ‘shocked’ if Arsenal can’t beat Tottenham Hotspur within the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have loved a stellar marketing campaign this time period, however following just a few disappointing outcomes – which noticed Mikel Arteta’s facet get knocked-out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, Arsenal’s spectacular season was liable to derailing.
Nevertheless, following back-to-back spectacular victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea within the Premier League, Arsenal have steadied the ship forward of the North London Derby.
Mikel Arteta’s facet are at the moment on the prime of the desk with 77 factors from 34 video games, sitting just one level forward of Manchester Metropolis having performed an additional recreation. Liverpool are at the moment third and following their defeat in opposition to Everton in midweek, they’ve misplaced floor within the title race.
So, Arsenal must beat their arch-rivals on Sunday to keep up their title cost, nevertheless, historical past has proven that it’s not simple to beat the town rivals, particularly when you’re within the title race like Liverpool skilled that in midweek.
Merson predicts Arsenal win
Nevertheless, writing on Sportskeeda, Merson has stated that Tottenham haven’t been capable of showcase their finest in opposition to prime groups this season so it is going to be an enormous shock if the Gunners can’t handle to return away with all three factors from this fixture.
The pundit additional claims that Arsenal are a greater soccer workforce than Spurs so the hosts are unlikely to have the ability to come away with a optimistic consequence regardless of their residence benefit.
Merson wrote:
“Tottenham have been very good at residence this season however should you have a look at their final ten outcomes – they’ve confronted 9 backside half groups! Manchester Metropolis had been the one top-half workforce they confronted in that interval they usually misplaced that recreation, so I can’t see them getting something out of this one.
“Arsenal are only a higher soccer workforce, so I’m very bullish on this one. I’ll be shocked if the Gunners don’t win this one as Spurs can’t beat Arsenal at their very own recreation. When Arsenal misplaced to Aston Villa, they modified their workforce round by transferring Kai Havertz right into a midfield function to accommodate Gabriel Jesus, a transfer which in the end backfired. In current weeks, they’ve gone again to Havertz up entrance with Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield – that’s the workforce they have to retain for the remainder of the season! Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal”
The match will kick off at 2pm UK time and it will be fascinating to see how the sport ultimately unfolds. Nevertheless, Arsenal can’t afford to think about something however a victory to maintain their hopes of profitable the league title this time period alive.