January 14th 2025.
As the highly-anticipated north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is fast approaching, former Arsenal player Paul Merson has shared his thoughts and predictions for the upcoming match. The two rivals will face off at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, with Spurs hoping to put pressure on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
It has been a tough start to the year for Arsenal, as they dropped points in the title race against Brighton and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. To add to their woes, they were eliminated from the FA Cup after losing to Manchester United on penalties just five days later. With their hopes for the season hanging by a thread, Arsenal cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to lift the trophy for the first time since 2004.
Currently, Arsenal sits ten places and 17 points above their north London rivals, who have been struggling under manager Ange Postecoglou and find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Spurs have not won a league match in a month and were taken to extra time by non-league team Tamworth in the FA Cup. Given their inconsistent form, Merson believes that it will be challenging for Tottenham to secure a win at Arsenal and has predicted a comfortable victory for the title-chasing Gunners.
Merson also pointed out that Arsenal is in desperate need of a new center-forward, but he still expects them to come out on top against Tottenham. He believes that a trophy, even if it is just the Carabao Cup, would keep Postecoglou in his job at Spurs. Merson also mentioned the possibility of other top teams not winning a trophy this season, making it an even more significant opportunity for Arsenal to secure a win against their rivals.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton also shared his thoughts on the upcoming derby, backing Arsenal to come out on top once again. He acknowledged that Arsenal has had a difficult week, but believes they have a better chance of winning a trophy this season than Tottenham. Sutton also mentioned Arsenal's recent struggles in front of goal, but thinks that they will have the advantage in this match as Spurs' playing style suits Arsenal's ability to counter-attack.
Despite the importance of this derby for both teams, Sutton believes that the expansive way Tottenham plays will make it challenging for them to secure a win with their inexperienced defense and new goalkeeper. He predicts that Tottenham will score, but their tendency to give up a lot of chances will ultimately work in Arsenal's favor. Sutton believes that this is a must-win game for Arsenal if they want to stay in the title race, and he expects them to come out on top.
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