Big North London derby with the two rivals playing in the unusual circumstances of no hugely partisan home crowd and with both outside the top 6. Tottenham could actually move into 5th with the three points , but do not have a Champions League spot in their own hands at least via a league position. Even all three points is unlikely to see the Gunners move up from 10th. I suppose that gives the visitors more motivation, but this is always a massive game regardless of league position and both teams will be up for this and arrive in pretty good form.

 

Spurs have won their last five by a combined 15-1 , but their three league opponents in that sequence have an average league position of 14.7 and they struggled to a fortunate 1-0 win in the only away game. Arsenal have lost only to Manchester City in their last seven , scoring 15 goals and both teams have their star front men firing on all cylinders at present (allowing for quality of opposition, xG suggests that the Gunners are the #2 ranked offense over the last dozen games). The two Big 6 clubs each look to have one foot in the last 8 of the Europa League which gives both a route into the Champions League , but only one can take that and with a potential clash in that competition on the horizon, neither will want to give up ground today and I can see avoiding defeat as a priority in both camps. Tottenham have won just 2/35 derby games as visitors and h2h meetings have become increasingly tight, with 4/7 here at the Emirates ending all square and this game has 1-1 written all over it !

 

There will be a few spicy challenges flying around as usual in the NLD and referee Michael Oliver has awarded 16 penalties in 23 domestic games this season, 3 in 5 in Europe, he took charge of the reverse fixture last season, no pens that day, but 8 yellow cards and we can expect him to be a busy man today !