Tottenham Hotspur can dent Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes with a win this weekend
Tottenham will aim to change their Premier League fortunes this weekend after a recent run of disappointing results. The Lilywhites have dropped points in three of their last four league matches, which has pushed them down to fifth in the table. However, they remain in a strong position and still have a genuine opportunity to compete for European qualification this season.
Just before the international break, the North Londoners missed a golden chance to secure all three points against Manchester United at home. Spurs were leading deep into stoppage time against a ten-man United side, before Matthijs de Ligt rose highest to rescue a draw for the visitors with a late header. Thomas Frank’s team dropped two more points at N17, further extending their winless run on home soil.
With the two-week break now over, the Lilywhites have an opportunity to put things right as they prepare to face local rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby. It is the perfect stage to revive their Premier League campaign while also dealing a major blow to the Gunners’ title aspirations. The clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter that could swing either way as both sides gear up for battle at the Emirates Stadium.
Tottenham could clinch an unlikely result against Arsenal this weekend
Realistically, Arsenal remain clear favourites to take all three points in the first North London Derby of the season. The Gunners have been the Premier League’s most consistent side so far, proving extremely difficult to break down and create chances against. Tottenham will therefore need to be at their very best to secure an unlikely result away from home.
Despite this, Danny Murphy believes Spurs possess enough quality to hurt Arsenal, especially given that Frank’s side are still unbeaten away from home in the Premier League this season. Speaking on talkSPORT (via X), Murphy said,
“It’ll be an interesting one because for once in many, many years, you could argue that the Arsenal vs Tottenham game, which has so obviously been Arsenal favourites, is now hanging in the balance. With Tottenham’s away form of four wins and a draw, it’s a better fixture for them being away than it is at home because the pressure over Tottenham is getting to them.”
The pundit added,
“Away from home they can be more pragmatic. I think it suits Tottenham as they won’t have more of the ball than Arsenal. But they can play on the counter, they can play set-plays and long throws. So, it’s a tricky one.”
Murphy believes Tottenham have a realistic chance of closing the gap on Arsenal for the first time in years due to their impressive away record in the Premier League. He argues that playing away from home benefits the Lilywhites, allowing them to be more pragmatic and rely on quick counter-attacks and set-pieces. The pressure from the home crowd will also be absent, giving them a genuine chance of securing a positive result against the Gunners.
Predicting the outcome remains difficult. Arsenal are dealing with their own injury concerns, with influential centre-back Gabriel expected to miss the derby after suffering a groin injury during the international break. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can capitalise on this setback and inflict further damage on the Gunners as they attempt to close the gap on their local rivals.