Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Emirates StadiumAttendance60,060.
Sunday 8 November 2015 16:03, UK
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby on Super Sunday looking for a sixth straight Premier League win.
The Gunners have scored 16 goals in their last five league games, but were dominated by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in a 5-1 Champions League group stage defeat.
Tottenham are on a fine run of form of their own in the Premier League, with Mauricio Pochettino's side unbeaten since the opening day of the season sitting in fifth place with 20 points.
And they have Harry Kane, who scored twice in a 2-1 win for Spurs in February, back firing, having scored four goals in his last two league appearances.
Team news
Arsenal could have centre-back Laurent Koscielny available following a hip problem. Wenger reported no other fresh injury concerns from the midweek defeat away to Bayern, but confirmed full-back Hector Bellerin (groin) remains unavailable.
Captain Mikel Arteta (ankle) faces a fitness test, while goalkeeper David Ospina could return from a shoulder problem. Forward Theo Walcott (calf), midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey (both hamstring), Jack Wilshere (fibula), forward Danny Welbeck and Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky (both knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Tottenham defender Danny Rose is hoping to recover from a knock in time. Rose came off in the second half of Monday's win over Aston Villa but is expected to be fit while Clinton Njie is close to recovering from a hamstring injury and could also feature at the Emirates.
Summer signing Son Heung-min is available again following six weeks out with a foot problem, but Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli are both out with ankle injuries. Andros Townsend is also likely to be absent as the winger serves punishment for his altercation with a club fitness coach on Monday.
Opta stats
Arsenal have won 13 and lost just two of their last 18 Premier League games at the Emirates, conceding just nine goals in that run.
Spurs have won just one of their last 22 Premier League trips to their north London rivals (W1 D8 L13).
Tottenham have lost just two of their last 10 Premier League away games (W4 D4 L2).
Olivier Giroud has scored in five of his last seven Premier League appearances.
The Gunners have scored 199 and conceded 97 goals in Premier League London derbies on home soil. They also have earned 399 points from all London derbies.
Petr Cech has the best saves to shots ratio of any goalkeeper in the top flight this season (83%) and needs just one clean sheet to equal David James' record of 169 in the Premier League.
Spurs are on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, having not lost a game in the competition since the opening day (10 games - W5 D5 L0).
Merson's prediction
This is a big game for Tottenham and a big game for Arsenal after the embarrassment against Bayern. When you consider the manner in which they lost in Munich, if Arsenal were to lose you could say Arsene Wenger would come under pressure again. Saying that, I do expect Arsenal to win, I'd be shocked if they didn't.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
Betting
Arsenal are Sky Bet's 7/10 favourites for the victory with Tottenham 7/2 while the draw is priced at 3/1. Goals are certainly expected with over 2.5 just 4/7 and it is Giroud who is rated the first scorer favourite at 4/1. Harry Kane is naturally considered Spurs' main threat at 13/2 to break the deadlock and 7/4 to add to his tally of five goals from his last three games.
