Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are trapped in an eternal battle for supremacy in North London.
Fierce local rivals, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are always seeking to outdo one another.
On Sunday, the two sides shall go head-to-head in a Premier League clash. Mikel Arteta will be desperate to see his side maintain the recent dominance that they have enjoyed over their neighbours.
Arsenal have not lost against Spurs in either of the last two seasons, winning three of their derby clashes with them and drawing once.
In both of those campaigns, Arsenal also finished significantly ahead of Spurs in the Premier League table.
However, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown feels that although there is a significant gap between the two clubs, they also have more than geographic proximity in common.
Martin Keown on the gap between Arsenal and Tottenham
Speaking on talkSPORT, Keown was recently asked if the gap between Arsenal and Spurs is widening.
The man who made 449 appearances for the Gunners replied: “No, I don’t think so, there’s too much between the two teams.”
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However, he then added: “It’s been 21 years since Arsenal won the Premier League, God knows how many years it’s been since Spurs won a trophy worth picking up so they’re in similar boats. Arsenal have won copious amounts of FA Cups.”
Arteta has promised Arsenal fans that he will deliver major trophies, and he now needs to deliver on that.
On the relative strength of the two sides, Keown noted some of Spurs’ key players, who will pose a threat to Arsenal.
He stated: “Son is a player who might be the difference, they’ve got to look at Solanke coming in. I just feel that there’s Bissouma in there, Maddison, Sarr, they’ve got decent players. I think Arsenal are better, I think they’re closer to City.”
Arsenal absentees for Spurs
Whilst Arsenal will back themselves to get a positive result from this match, the fact that they are away from him presents an extra challenge, as they will face a hostile atmosphere.
On top of that, Arteta is set to be without some key players. Declan Rice is suspended, having been sent off against Brighton last time out.
Meanwhile, summer signing Mikel Merino is already injured, and Riccardo Calafiori is set to have his fitness assessed, having picked up a knock whilst on international duty.