The Premier League returns from the international break with one of its biggest fixtures as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur gear up for the 192nd North London derby.
Things are bound to get feisty in the big match and bookmaker William Hill sees Spurs center-back Cristian Romero as the likeliest man getting booked with odds at 1.83.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 30th, 7:30 A.M. (EST)
Arsenal enter the derby holding the first spot in the league and sitting a point ahead of both Tottenham and Manchester City. The Gunners can hang on to first place if they don’t lose on Saturday and Man City fail to win Sunday’s Manchester derby.
History suggests that Arsenal are in a very solid spot regarding their chances of maintaining their lead at the top of the table. Tottenham have managed just two away victories against their North London neighbors across the last 37 league meetings. Arsenal have won 21 of the clashes and last lost a Premier League game on home turf to Tottenham in 2010.
Arsenal’s success in the fixture means that Mikel Arteta is unbeaten in all seven derbies against the Spurs at Emirates Stadium both as a manager and as a player. The Spaniard has managed to turn his team into real title contenders and Saturday provides Arsenal with another opportunity to prove their credentials.
Some Spurs fans might be dreaming of winning the Premier League title as well after seeing their side enjoy an unbeaten start to the campaign. Dating back to last season, Tottenham even boasted a 13-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League and there’s a chance to match a club record on Saturday with another positive result.
Can Harry Kane cook up another big derby performance? He’s scored 13 goals in 17 career games against Arsenal and nobody else has managed more than 10 in the North London derby. Tottenham’s No. 10 is on the brink of setting a Premier League record for most goals scored in London derbies. He equaled Thierry Henry’s landmark of 43 goals in a 2-1 win over Fulham at the start of the month.
Tottenham has played three derbies in total this season, winning one and drawing the other two. Both games – against Chelsea and West Ham – were on the road, and the Spurs now own a miserable run of eight consecutive away derbies without a win. Antonio Conte will be desperate to put a stop to the awful streak on Saturday.
