Did you know Arsenal have not managed back to back away wins in the Premier League this season? In fact they’ve only managed it once since January 2014 (stat from opta).
But it’s time they ended that run and add consistency on the road with a win at the Lane on Saturday. The match couldn’t be bigger, Spurs are unbeaten in six Premier League home matches while the Gunners have won every match since their New Years Day hiccup at Southampton.
Here are five reasons why we can beat the Spuds today.
1. Arsenal’s fluent attack
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Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil returns to the first team couldn’t have been smoother. Now both are fit, they’ve scored in two consecutive games since overcoming their injury woes. Theo particularly likes a North London Derby and has netted four times and assisted three in his last six Premier League appearances against Tottenham. He infamously showed Spurs the score when stretchered off with his injury last season when 2-0 up (see picture above).
Santi Cazorla has been exquisite. He’s netted six times and created five assists in his last 10 outings for the club, but it’s work off the ball and in the transition from defence to attack that has been lauded the most.
Olivier Giroud added to his rich vein of form with another tidy finish against Aston Villa. The Frenchman has now netted five times in six Premier League games. Even without Alexis Sanchez today the Gunners have plenty in the locker to rip the Spuds apart.
2. Gunners on fire
Arsenal have been on song at present. They’ve won 7 of their last 8 matches including at Manchester City. They smashed five past Aston Villa last weekend and have a good record against the Spuds. They have won two out of three NLD’s in 2014 (W2 D1) and have conceded just one in the process.
With a host of technical players in the squad, Arsenal have been awarded the most penalties in the league with six, while Spurs have conceded the most with six. This tie has Santi Cazorla written all over it.
3. Arsenal’s defensive solidity
Much of the Gunners improvement has been down to the return to fitness of Laurent Koscielny and the rise to prominence of Francis Coquelin. As a consequence the entire defensive unit has improve considerably and will hope to add to their third consecutive clean sheet in the league.
4. Ohhhhhh-Spina
David Ospina has yet to concede a goal in the Premier League since his promotion as the first choice shot stopper. He now has as many clean sheets in the league as Wojciech Szczesny with three. Long may it continue.
5. Spurs have a shite defensive record.
Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 32 Premier League North London Derby’s. They lost to Leicester the other week which takes some doing. Arsenal have been scoring for fun with a fluent attacking force and will certainly keep Spurs thinking.
A case for a draw:
There’s a small case for a draw which wouldn’t be the end of the world. The Spuds are on a decent run and have lost just one of their last six Premier League home games against us (W3 D2 L1). The tie has ended in a draw 18 times in the Premier League, making it the most drawn match in the history of the competition.
A case for a Spurs win:
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**tumbleweed**
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COYG!
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