STAR PREVIEW: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’m still coming to terms with the shock midweek results in the Premier League. In fact, if Star Sports offered me 6/4 on picking the winners AFTER the matches had been played I’d reckon I’d still have got it wrong.

Reminds me of a few decades ago when my local rag inadvertently printed the ball in a Spot The Ball photo competition and they STILL got wrong entries !!! Sometimes, the facts are murky – even when they are staring you in the face.

The facts of the Tottenham v Arsenal lunchtime kick-off on Saturday are that whilst it was always going to a crucial game for the title, the midweek results have converted it into more of a Cup tie. A draw isn’t really palatable for either side and a loss pretty unthinkable. Certainly for Arsenal, who COULD find themselves nine points off leaders Leicester after Saturday’s games unfold.

It’s not very scientific – but I have a feeling Spurs will come out on top. They held Arsenal 1-1 earlier in the season and I’ve been bitterly disappointed with the Gunners recently. They have only won two of their last eight away games and are now on a run of four games without a win.

They can, perhaps, be excused the 2-0 home defeat at the hands of the mighty Barcelona but their midweek loss against Swansea was a real body blow, especially given they took an early lead.

Spurs have had their own blips at the hands of Crystal Palace and West Ham but overall I think they are playing better football and of course have home advantage.

Arsenal’s goalkeeper Petr Cech will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a calf injury he suffered during the Swansea game and will be replaced by David Ospina. Laurent Koscielny has a damaged calf and has also been ruled out.

For Spurs, Dele Alli is expected to start after a recent minor ankle problem.

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Premier League
12:45 BT Sport 1 / BT Sport 1 HD / BT Sport Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Nov 2015 PREMIER Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Sep 2015 CAPITAL ONE CUP Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal
Feb 2015 PREMIER Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
Sep 2014 PREMIER Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Mar 2014 PREMIER Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal
Jan 2014 ENGLISH FA CUP Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham
Sep 2013 PREMIER Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham
Mar 2013 PREMIER Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
Nov 2012 PREMIER Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham
Feb 2012 PREMIER Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham

Tottenham have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games at home to Arsenal (W4, D2) and given Spurs are now playing better than ever it looks a fair bet at 11/8 with Star Sports that they can claim the win they desperately need in this crunch North London derby.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)

BACK SPURS for 12 points at around 11/8 with Star Sports

Thursday: -8.00 points (no bet Friday)

What’s your view? CALL STAR SPORTS 08000 521 321