Tottenham v Arsenal: Pundits offer north London derby predictions
Sunday 30 April 2017 07:30, UK
The Soccer Saturday pundits are torn as to whether Tottenham will boost their title chances by winning the north London derby, but none of them are backing Arsenal to triumph.
Mauricio Pochettino's side head into the showdown as Sky Bet's odds-on favourites, having established a 14-point lead over their rivals with an eight-match winning run.
However, the Gunners will be desperate to ruin both Spurs' title chances and their final north London derby at White Hart Lane, while boosting their own top-four ambitions with a victory.
Here's what Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier are predicting ahead of the 184th instalment of the north London derby...
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CHARLIE NICHOLAS
I really think this is going to be an absolute classic, with Tottenham in the title race and Arsenal on the top-four hunt, it's a must-win for both sides, and I'd be surprised if there wasn't plenty of yellow cards and a sending off.
If it's a draw then some people at Arsenal will be celebrating, having halted their rivals' title charge, but I won't be one of them.
For the first 20 minutes Spurs will be all over Arsenal but Wenger's new formation provides more of a solid structure to cope with it.
Arsenal won't do what they usually do and come to White Hart Lane and open up. They'll start the game by sitting in with a back five and play counter-attack football, with Danny Welbeck instead of Olivier Giroud.
If Tottenham score in the first 20-25 minutes they'll win the game, maybe even 3-0 or 4-0, but after that, as it so often is in north London derbies, anything could happen.
Yes Tottenham have the best manager in the country in Mauricio Pochettino and the best team right now but I've got to believe that Arsenal are still capable of causing them problems.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 and Sanchez to score first (60/1 with Sky Bet)
PAUL MERSON
Credit to Arsenal for that performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Man City. I didn't see it coming.
But I cannot bring myself to back them to beat Tottenham on Sunday. I weigh it up and think, where do Arsenal win this game?
Alexis Sanchez needs the match of his life, Mesut Ozil needs to have an unbelievable performance, and it needs to go their way on the day.
Spurs maybe felt they just had to turn up at Palace and I think Big Sam's team shocked them a little bit. They must have got a rollicking at half-time, Mamadou Sakho then got injured and Pochettino took off his holding midfielders.
In the end, they deserved to win and it was a massive three points. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm going for Spurs to win this weekend. There's a long way to go in this title race.
MERSE PREDICTS: 3-1 and Kane to score first (33/1 with Sky Bet)
PHIL THOMPSON
I think Arsenal have found a bit of togetherness. Wenger has got the three at the back to give them a bit more solidity, although it's a very different back three to the more creative trio that Spurs have.
The three at the back obviously worked for Chelsea in the semi-final as Spurs struggled to break it down even though they had a lot of the ball. I think it could be a similar affair.
It will be interesting to see whether Wenger leaves Olivier Giroud out and gives Sanchez a bit more freedom, as he's the key to producing a bit of magic.
THOMMO PREDICTS: 1-1 and Sanchez to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet
MATT LE TISSIER
I know people say form goes out the window in derby matches but even without being at their best, as they showed against Palace, they can produce results.
Arsenal scrapped by with a lucky own goal against Leicester and I can see Spurs taking advantage of that negative pressure on Wenger's side.
Harry Kane has obviously been impressive in the London derbies and his partnership with Alli has been pretty special, whereas Arsenal don't seem to have the same pairings and togetherness around their side.
LE TISS PREDICTS: 2-1 and Alli to score first - 28/1 with Sky Bet
