Extremely intriguing, not just for the North London Derby sentiments, but for the different approaches both clubs have taken over the last few seasons to reach the same goal, which is finishing in the top 4, with Spurs spending a lot (maybe too much money) while the Gunners aren’t spending anything at all.
The list of confirmed transfers so far for Tottenham? Christian Eriksen, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli and Paulinho. In all, £107 million to make them the biggest spenders of the summer, and we still haven’t heard if Bale has officially been sold, even though reports in both Spain and English media outlets suggest than an announcement will be coming very very soon.
It’s going to be very difficult to predict what kind of lineup Spurs will be using as they visit the Emirates, a stadium in which they have a very poor record of one win, one draw and five losses, including two consecutive 5-2 defeats that shattered the hope of finishing above Arsenal in the table for once or changing the dynamics of this fierce rivalry. Despite Tottenham being on some sort of rise for the past four years, they’re still inferior to Arsenal.
With Aaron Lennon not completely healthy for the match, we might see someone new for Spurs. Paulinho, Chadli, Capoue and Soldado will be the main men in the midfield and attack, but there will be questions about who will feature on the right wing and who soon we’ll see Lamela and Eriksen, with the team a few too many players who occupy the same positions, as their attacking midfielder situation looks extremely loaded.
This is going to be a midfield battle, and Arsenal still have the edge. If Aaron Ramsey continues playing in a central role instead of out wide (Podolski is injured, which means Wenger will move someone to the left), his Wilshere partnership should be the dominant one on the pitch. If Cazrola is the one playing on the left wing, Arsenal shouldn’t lose too much quality on the left wing. Theo Walcott usually shines against Spurs, and this time shouldn’t be any different.
Predictions – Arsenal are a team, Tottenham? Still a bunch of players. It’s going to take some time coming together, with the new signings probably still not involved in this match. While Spurs have won their first two matches, they haven’t been playing well, and it’ll cost them points for the first time this season, leaving the Emirates with another loss.