Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou expects a tough challenge from Arsenal in the first North London derby of this season
Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, is aiming to extract a good performance from the challenging North London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
He’s aware of the high expectations from the fans, as the team aims to maintain its positive momentum after a strong start to the season.
Both Arsenal and Spurs have been undefeated in their last five Premier League matches, entering the derby with 13 points each. Postecoglou’s team currently holds the second position based on goal difference, while their arch-rivals sit in fourth place.
This season marks the Spurs’ best start to a top-flight campaign in 57 years. However, it’s worth noting that they haven’t won a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in 13 years.
Additionally, Postecoglou is mindful that the Gunners secured victories in both home and away fixtures against Spurs last season.
The Greece international calls Arsenal a ‘very good’ team, particularly considering their achievements last season. He expects a challenging match in one of the Premier League’s most intense rivalries.
Tottenham are fully aware that they need to overcome historical odds to secure a positive result. The Lilywhites haven’t won a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium since 2010, a memorable comeback victory from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
Given his previous experience with Celtic, Postecoglou is well aware of the importance of the upcoming high-octane rivalry match and is preparing for a challenging encounter on Sunday.
While talking to Spurs TV (as quoted by Football London), the 58-year-old manager said:
“If we had of beaten them twice last year, I would be going into this game saying it will be a tough game and it will be a tough game for our players, particularly away from home.”
“That is the challenge for us. We’re in good form and we want to go out there and try to play our football against them.”
Tottenham will go to the Emirates Stadium without several players due to various injuries. Bryan Gil, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, and Rodrigo Bentancur have been sidelined for the long term.
Giovani Lo Celso is still unavailable due to a thigh strain, and Ivan Perisic has joined the list of injured players with an ACL injury, which will require surgery.
However, the Spurs have enough quality on board to provide a tough challenge to a strong Arsenal side.
Both managers, Postecoglou and Mikel Arteta, share a common goal of winning matches through attacking and entertaining football.
This approach remains consistent, even in the upcoming clash against the Gunners, where both managers aim to dominate possession and score goals.
With both teams committed to their respective football philosophies, this fixture, which rarely disappoints, is expected to be even more thrilling than usual.
While facing Arsenal is always crucial for Spurs, the recent last-minute victory over Sheffield United has eased some pressure on Postecoglou’s team. Remaining undefeated would boost belief and optimism within the club.
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However, as long as Spurs display progress on the field and play with dedication, it would not be a disgrace to fall short against Arsenal in the current context.
The Lilywhites will be a real threat to the home side on Sunday.
