Arsenal a really good team - Conte
Arsenal and Tottenham are separated by just one point at the top of the Premier League table as they go head-to-head in the first north London derby of the season this afternoon. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners sit top of the league with 18 points whilst Antonio Conte’s Spurs are two places back in third.
In their last match before the international break Tottenham despatched Leicester 6-2 with Son Heung-min finally hitting form with a second half hat-trick from off the bench to seal the victory for Spurs. Arsenal are also in fine touch and they ended the opening spell of the season with a 3-0 win away at Brentford.
Today’s encounter is set to be a furious clash between two teams on the top of their game. Arsenal have only lost once in their league campaign so far – a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford – whilst Tottenham are unbeaten with five wins and two draws from their first seven fixtures. Will the Gunners end Spurs’ unbeaten run and remain top of the Premier League table?
Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby:
Mikel Arteta attempting balancing act with Gabriel Jesus to avoid suspension
Mikel Arteta admits it is a fine balancing act to keep Gabriel Jesus playing his natural game while trying to prevent the Arsenal forward from getting suspended.
A battler on the pitch, Jesus has already picked up four yellow cards in the Premier League this season – another would land him a one-match ban.
The Brazil international, who has also scored four goals across seven Premier League games since joining from Manchester City, will lead the line as north London rivals Tottenham visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Jesus has already picked up four yellow cards in the Premier League this season
Arsenal vs Tottenham: Team news and starting line-ups
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Tottenham XI: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Emerson, Højbjerg, Bentancur, Perisic; Richarlison, Kane, Son
Premier League clubs set for six-week sprint through to Qatar World Cup
England’s top clubs now face a relentless schedule that makes even the usual winter slog look like a walk in the park – those that have European commitments to juggle will have to fit 13 fixtures in across that period, an average of one every 3.38 days. While that’s certainly not irregular in short spells, for teams to do so over such a prolonged period of time is going to require an almighty effort on the part of the squad and fitness staff – not to mention supporters attending games.
Even the rest of the top flight aren’t exactly going to have a stroll between now and the break for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
It will be full-steam ahead to rack up the points before an outrageously interrupted season breaks off once more; nothing will be won in this period, but title challenges, places in the team and even jobs could certainly be lost during it
Antonio Conte tips ‘fearless’ Richarlison to flourish for Tottenham on derby day
Spurs make the short trip across the capital to Arsenal with last season’s crushing 3-0 win over the Gunners still fresh in the memory of both sides.
It saw Tottenham eventually pip their rivals to the top four and Champions League qualification but both have recruited well during the summer and now have Brazilians leading the line.
Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus are in a battle to be Brazil’s number nine at the World Cup in Qatar
