Tottenham vs. Arsenal
Venue: White Hart Lane
Kick off:1:45pm
North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, collide in one of the biggest derbies in recent memory on Saturday (today), with both clubs aiming to bounce back from surprise midweek defeats.
The duo sit second and third in the table and both missed the chance to close the gap to Leicester City on Wednesday after the Foxes could only draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side has won four of their last five league games at White Hart Lane, but all four of those wins came against sides currently in the bottom half and they lost to Leicester in the other match on January 13.
Pochettino might be glad that his side kick off today’s action so that they have as much rest as possible before their mouthwatering trip to Europa League favourites, Borussia Dortmund, for the first leg of their last-16 tie on Thursday.
Masked man, Harry Kane, was one of the club’s underperformers at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday, squandering multiple chances in the second half, but he is confident that he and his teammates will bounce back against the Gunners.
There was plenty of love from Arsenal fans for their players on Valentine’s Day when Danny Welbeck’s last-gasp header saw them topple Leicester, but since then it has been all downhill for Arsene Wenger’s outfit.
In the league, the Gunners have won just two of their last eight Premier league away games, but it was at home where they suffered a stunning loss on Wednesday night as Swansea City, previously without a win in four, fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Emirates.
Even Arsenal’s star forward, Alexis Sanchez, has admitted that he and his teammates have lacked a “certain hunger”.
The Chilean has flattered to deceive of late, failing to score a league goal for 11 matches since October, with his only goal in his last 10 appearances in all competitions coming against Championship side Burnley in the FA Cup.
Spurs possible starting lineup: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Chadli, Kane.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal, Ramsey, Coquelin, Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.