September 10th 2024.
On Sunday afternoon, Ange Postecoglou's Spurs will be hosting their arch-rivals, Arsenal. The highly anticipated north London derby has been the talk of the town, with both teams eager to come out on top. Martin Keown, a former Arsenal and England player, has shared his thoughts on the upcoming match, predicting a close contest between the two sides.
Despite backing Arsenal to win, Keown acknowledges that there is not much separating the two teams. Last year's Premier League runners-up, Arsenal, started their season with convincing wins against Wolves and Aston Villa, but suffered a setback against Brighton before the international break. On the other hand, Tottenham also suffered a defeat in their last game against Newcastle.
For Arsenal, this match is a perfect opportunity to bounce back from their loss, but they may have to do it without some key players. Declan Rice is serving a one-match suspension, while summer signings Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard have picked up injuries during the break. According to Keown, Arsenal will have to be at their best to secure a win against their fierce rivals.
Keown also praised Tottenham for their recent performances, noting their strong team unity and togetherness. He believes that under their new manager, Tottenham is setting a new culture and have their own trophies to win. He also mentioned the absence of key players for Arsenal, but urged them to make their own luck and come out of the cauldron with some points.
When asked about the 21-year trophy drought for Arsenal and the even longer one for Tottenham, Keown believes that both teams are in a similar boat. He also mentioned some key players to watch out for, such as Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, and Tottenham's new signing, Dominic Solanke, who could have a big impact in the derby.
Despite predicting an Arsenal win, Keown admitted that it would be a huge blow if Tottenham were to come out on top. However, he believes that Arsenal has the pedigree of champions, with their impressive away record and clean sheets. When pressed for a prediction, Keown remained loyal to his former team, but also acknowledged that earning anything at Tottenham will not be easy, as they do not lose many games at home.
In conclusion, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, and it will be a closely contested match. The north London derby is always a big occasion, and both teams will be looking to come out on top and earn bragging rights. It will be a game not to be missed, and both teams will be giving their all to secure a win.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]