Ian Wright and Roy Keane have now given their verdict on how Sunday’s North London Derby will play out.
Arsenal will travel to take on their fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
There is always a great deal of pressure and anxiety that comes with the North London Derby, such is the scale of the animosity between the two neighbouring clubs. With bragging rights on the line, it is a match that both sets of fans are desperate to win.
Mikel Arteta’s side have enjoying a recent period of dominance over Spurs. However, Sunday’s fixture now represents a major challenge for the Gunners.
Arsenal will be without many key players for this match. Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino will all be unavailable on Sunday, meaning that Arteta will have to name a makeshift midfield.
Arteta can still name a strong starting XI against Tottenham, but the Gunners’ bench will be significantly weakened, and there will certainly be a measure on unfamiliarity in the team.
Ian Wright and Roy Keane make Arsenal vs Spurs prediction
Ian Wright is concerned that these absences could be the Gunners’ undoing. The Arsenal legend has admitted that he does not expect Arteta’s side to win.
On the Stick to Football podcast, Wright and Roy Keane were tasked with working as a team to predict the result of this match.
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Speaking for the both of them, Wright said: “It is the best derby… We’re going to go 2-2.”
He then continued to explain his stance: “If we go there and get the point this week, and I’m not being negative, with what we’ve got missing I think that’s a good point.”
Are Tottenham the favourites against Arsenal?
Spurs will certainly sense a golden opportunity now exists for them to claim a win over the Gunners. However, the Arsenal defence has proven itself to be formidable. The likes of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and David Raya will back themselves to be able to keep Tottenham at bay.
Martin Keown believes Arsenal are ahead of Tottenham, and the fact that they have finished significantly ahead of Spurs in each of the last two Premier League campaigns only serves to support that point.
The playing field has been somewhat levelled this weekend, though, due to injuries and suspension. Given these factors, the home side will fancy their chances against the Gunners this time around.